+- RomanArmyTalk (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat)
+-- Forum: Research Arena (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: Allies & Enemies of Rome (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/forumdisplay.php?fid=10)
+--- Thread: How to pronounce "Celt"? (/showthread.php?tid=15780)
How to pronounce "Celt"? - Epictetus - 09-21-2009
How does one pronounce “Celt”? Is it with a hard “c” or a soft “c”? I see in dictionaries that either pronunciation is accepted, but I’ve heard some persuasive arguments that it should always be a hard “c” – “Kelt”. An Irish friend once told me that it was always a hard “c” except for sports franchises, and then it was soft, so “Seltics.”
Is there a definitive answer?
Re: How to pronounce "Celt"? - Jona Lendering - 09-21-2009
Quote:How does one pronounce “Celt”?Isn't this the same discussion as "Sisero or Kikero, Seesar or Kaisar"? In other words, isn't this the debate between an early and a late pronounciation of the same language?
Re: How to pronounce "Celt"? - Nathan Ross - 09-21-2009
Quote:An Irish friend once told me that it was always a hard “c” except for sports franchises, and then it was soft, so “Seltics.”
Is there a definitive answer?
Your friend was right - always a hard K. Greek Keltoi and Roman Celtae were both 'hard', and the modern 'Celt' is likewise. The confusion comes mainly from the Glasgow Irish/Catholic football club Celtic, pronounced 'Seltic', which was named back in the nineteenth century and maintains the mispronunciation. This has carried over into various other sporting names - racehorses etc.
There's a rather rude story (which perhaps I shouldn't repeat here :!: ) about the Welsh actor Richard Burton - while at a party in Hollywood, he was approached by an over-familiar Irish American, who explained that he too was a Selt. Burton replied something along the lines of 'No, I'm a Celt. You're a Sunt.' :wink:
- Nathan
Re: How to pronounce "Celt"? - D B Campbell - 09-21-2009
Quote:Isn't this the same discussion as "Sisero or Kikero, Seesar or Kaisar"?A variation thereof. UK archaeologists always say "Keltic", ... perhaps simply to draw a distinction with the football team?
Re: How to pronounce "Celt"? - Epictetus - 09-21-2009
Thanks for the comments, everyone.
Quote:Isn't this the same discussion as "Sisero or Kikero, Seesar or Kaisar"? In other words, isn't this the debate between an early and a late pronounciation of the same language?I had no idea what you were talking about until I did some internet searches. (I never studied Latin, unfortunately.) Quite interesting!
Re: How to pronounce "Celt"? - A_Volpe - 09-21-2009
oh darn, I thought it was pronounced "kelt" as in "kilt", an abbreviation of "killed"
since the only good Kelt has been Kilt.
Oooh! Zing! Just Kidding!! :mrgreen:
Re: How to pronounce "Celt"? - Alanus - 09-23-2009
Quote:oh darn, I thought it was pronounced "kelt" as in "kilt", an abbreviation of "killed"
since the only good Kelt has been Kilt.
Oooh! Zing! Just Kidding!! :mrgreen:
Hey, Andy
Didn't know you were on these threads. Kelt it is, just as Caesar was pronounced "Kaesar"... which led to the Germanic "Kaisar."
The "guy from Maine"
Re: How to pronounce "Celt"? - A_Volpe - 09-23-2009
AJ - It's all good, bro - I was just making a silly joke. I'm well aware of the pronunciation
Good to see you here on the board, too.. Mighty Third and it's Auxiliaries taking over RAT! Muahahah!
Re: How to pronounce "Celt"? - Nathan Ross - 09-23-2009
Quote:"Sisero or Kikero, Seesar or Kaisar"?
I've just about adapted to Markellus, Lukius and Kaekilius, pronunciation-wise, but somehow Kikero and Yulius Kaiser don't really work for me.
As for that 'Weni, Widi, Wiki' stuff... all a bit too 'Biggus Dickus', if you know what I mean
Re: How to pronounce "Celt"? - Alanus - 09-25-2009
Of course. Otherwise you'd be "Pwimus Piwus" of the Judean Wiberation Suicide Squad. :lol: