The Scots Gaelic Myth

[Allan Thomson]

I think there's another factor to consider as well which is what if the P Celt placename were documented or mapped by someone more familiar eith the Q Celt language? This can impact on the way something is spelt which then in future can impact on pronounciation if a language disappears fromnan area.

Manx was written down by a Welsh speaker which makes the spellings somewhat different to Scottish & Irish Gaelic. Then when some English only speakers who are not familiar even with the local dialect pronounce them it can make an impact & there are even two different ways used by some locals to pronounce words. An example of that would be the local legend about the Mhoddey Dhoo. As a child it was pronounced the "Mawdey Dhoo", now a lot of people say the "Moddy Dhoo" (even a few the "Moody Dhoo"), but in fact the Gaelic pronounciation should be "Mawtha Dhoo"... That's only after less than 100 years after the death of the last original Manx speaker... Imagine what happens to a long gone language in the hands of a population speaking another (possibly two different at one point) languages....

My point is let's be very careful when assuming that all Celtic placenames are Gaelic when in fact some of them could equally be Brythonnic or that they are indeed a Celtic language in an area which has constantly changed hands, especially in those areas where there is far more evidence for P Celt & Saxon history.

Finally don't be afraid to discuss the exceptions (ie the Kingdom of Galloway) but also equally important ensure you understand the main & most common & easiest methods of travel were by sea and watercourses & not by land....