February 2022 Program
Pennsylvania's Celtic Language Heritage
Presented by Charles "Chip" Kauffman
The richness of Pennsylvania history is seasoned uniquely by language contributions of immigrants to America from Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. Thousands of years earlier, the Celts, as the Greeks called them, comprised diverse tribes that spoke related languages across Europe and the British Isles – languages that would become Welsh, Irish, and Scottish. This presentation briefly covers the early history of Celtic languages and concentrates mainly on Pennsylvania’s Celtic language heritage in expressions, names, and place names as derived from Welsh, Irish, and Scottish immigrants.
This archived presentation may be watched here.
FEBRUARY PROGRAM REVIEW contributed by Becky Anstine
February 6, 2022, program: “The Dempwolf Legacy in York and Surrounding Areas”
Chip’s presentation was a whirlwind tour through history! He started with the question – “What is Celtic?” Then answered the questions: who, what, when, where, and why to understand PA’s Celtic Heritage. The Celts were not limited to the British Isles. Celts were prominent in the European continent from Spain to Italy to Gaul to Turkey and even China (early cave paintings and mummies have been found with red hair – a Celtic feature). They appeared as early as 4000 BCE. By 4000 BC, there were 3 major languages spoken: Greek, Latin and Celtic. The word “celt” comes from the Greek word meaning “outsiders”. They had no written language but used that of the Greeks. Their legacy is that of providing us with place names – for towns, rivers, valley, and hills – such as Paris, Avon, Glendale and Renshaw.
Early Celts were pagans and when the Romans wanted to convert them, the Celts fled from the west and then north to what is now Britain. This “tribe” was not actually given the name of “Celt” until the early 1700’s. Eventually, descendants of the Celts came to America- primarily to get away from the English for religious and political reasons. By then they were known as Welsh, Scottish and Irish.
Celtic words are still used in our everyday language – pet, plaid, slogan, glen. Common family names such as McCandless, Lawson and Burns came from the Celts. They assimilated themselves among the various cultures that were settling America. Some fought on both sides in the Civil War – the 116th was at the Battle of Gettysburg. Generally, in central Pennsylvania, they kept to themselves – the relationship between the Germans of York County and the Scotch-Irish was one of respect towards each other, but not intimacy.
To summarize and capture this presentation is almost impossible. The best way appreciate this interesting and informative presentation is to view the online recording available through the link above.
Charles “Chip” Kauffman is an adjunct faculty member at York College of Pennsylvania where he teaches World Languages. Over many years at several colleges in the region, he has taught Italian, German, Russian and other languages. He is a retired certified U.S. Government linguist and author of various articles on languages and linguistics.
This archived presentation may be watched here.
FEBRUARY PROGRAM REVIEW contributed by Becky Anstine
February 6, 2022, program: “The Dempwolf Legacy in York and Surrounding Areas”
Chip’s presentation was a whirlwind tour through history! He started with the question – “What is Celtic?” Then answered the questions: who, what, when, where, and why to understand PA’s Celtic Heritage. The Celts were not limited to the British Isles. Celts were prominent in the European continent from Spain to Italy to Gaul to Turkey and even China (early cave paintings and mummies have been found with red hair – a Celtic feature). They appeared as early as 4000 BCE. By 4000 BC, there were 3 major languages spoken: Greek, Latin and Celtic. The word “celt” comes from the Greek word meaning “outsiders”. They had no written language but used that of the Greeks. Their legacy is that of providing us with place names – for towns, rivers, valley, and hills – such as Paris, Avon, Glendale and Renshaw.
Early Celts were pagans and when the Romans wanted to convert them, the Celts fled from the west and then north to what is now Britain. This “tribe” was not actually given the name of “Celt” until the early 1700’s. Eventually, descendants of the Celts came to America- primarily to get away from the English for religious and political reasons. By then they were known as Welsh, Scottish and Irish.
Celtic words are still used in our everyday language – pet, plaid, slogan, glen. Common family names such as McCandless, Lawson and Burns came from the Celts. They assimilated themselves among the various cultures that were settling America. Some fought on both sides in the Civil War – the 116th was at the Battle of Gettysburg. Generally, in central Pennsylvania, they kept to themselves – the relationship between the Germans of York County and the Scotch-Irish was one of respect towards each other, but not intimacy.
To summarize and capture this presentation is almost impossible. The best way appreciate this interesting and informative presentation is to view the online recording available through the link above.
Charles “Chip” Kauffman is an adjunct faculty member at York College of Pennsylvania where he teaches World Languages. Over many years at several colleges in the region, he has taught Italian, German, Russian and other languages. He is a retired certified U.S. Government linguist and author of various articles on languages and linguistics.