The word "Gaulish" is spelled with two syllables: /ˈɡɔːlɪʃ/. The first syllable is pronounced with an open-mid back rounded vowel sound, represented by the symbol "ɔ". The second syllable is pronounced with a short "i" sound, represented by "ɪ". The "sh" sound at the end is represented by the symbol "ʃ". "Gaulish" refers to the language and culture of the ancient Gauls, a Celtic people who inhabited Western Europe before the Roman conquest.
Gaulish refers to the extinct Celtic language that was spoken by the ancient Gauls, who were the inhabitants of the region known as Gaul during the Iron Age and the Roman period. Gaul, situated mainly in modern-day France, also encompassed parts of Belgium, Switzerland, and Northern Italy. Gaulish is classified as a member of the Celtic language family, which includes other languages such as Irish, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Cornish, and Breton.
The Gaulish language developed from a branch of Indo-European languages and exhibits similarities with other Celtic languages, particularly those spoken in the British Isles. Despite the lack of written records, Gaulish remains known through inscriptions and personal names preserved in ancient Roman and Greek texts. These sources provide some understanding of Gaulish vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
Gaulish culture and language faced a decline with the Roman conquest of Gaul in the 1st century BCE, as Latin gradually replaced Gaulish as the official language. Over time, Gaulish faded away, completely extinct by the 6th century CE.
Scholars continue to study Gaulish to gain insights into the ancient Celtic world, its society, and its connections to other Celtic cultures. The study of Gaulish contributes to the broader understanding of Celtic languages, their origins, and their historical significance in Europe.
The word "Gaulish" derives from the ancient Celtic language spoken primarily by the Gauls, who were a group of Celtic peoples inhabiting the region known as Gaul, present-day France, during the Iron Age and Roman period. The term "Gaul" itself is believed to have originated from the Latin word "Gallus", which referred to the people inhabiting the territory. It is also thought that the Latin word might have been influenced by the Old Irish word "gall", meaning "stranger" or "foreigner", as the Romans considered the Gauls to be barbarians.