I updated the map and added new data! I tried to highlight areas where the language is spoken on a regular basis (i.e. Irish Gaeltachtaí) and give a lighter shaded area for areas where the language exists, but is less common.
The Welsh language appears to be the healthiest Celtic language, with strongholds and hundreds of thousands of native speakers in the northwest. There are Welsh speakers in Patagonia from an old colony, but they number perhaps only a thousand or two.
The Irish language is today the second strongest Celtic language. Although its Gaeltachtaí have been declining, the language is a national language of Ireland, and has grown in urban centres like Dublin.
Scottish Gaelic is in slow decline in the Western Islands (where it is still a majority), with some revival happening in Glasgow. It is also spoken in Nova Scotia by a few hundred native speakers, and a thousand more know the language, however its decline has been faster than in Scotland.
Breton is unfortunately in sharp decline and is today considered Severely Endangered according to UNESCO, despite having many speakers numerically. This is because it is the only unrecognised Celtic language at a national and regional language, and few young people continue to speak the language.
Manx was declared extinct in 2009, and its last native speaker died in the 1977. However, it is undergoing a revival on the Isle of Man, and this is helped by how recently the language was natively spoken on the island (we know how the language sounds, for example).
...this is unlike Cornish, the most humble Celtic language today and only spoken by a few hundred people who are dedicated to giving the tongue a second life. Cornish died out in the early 19th Century, and therefore had to be reconstructed as Cornish people recover their heritage language once more.
Cornish and Manx do not have notable population centres, therefore I've highlighted the general region. The other languages include areas with at least 25-30% native speakers. I am probably going to write a blog about Celtic language in the present day, as well as language revitalisation efforts for anyone interested.
Thanks! I find the Celtic languages quite interesting, it's just unfortunate how rare they are today. The Welsh language seems to have the most promise, as many of its speakers are young people (most Breton speakers, on the other hand, are quite old). Ireland has been trying to revitalise the Irish language, but their success seems limited. I've had relatives go to Dublin and they claimed to hear Irish being spoken by young people, however.
It is really unfortunate. Loads of people in Ireland have at least some Irish skills, but I suppose there is little reason for a majority native-English speaking nation to learn and use a language of general obscurity. I've also seen criticism directed at the way Irish schools teach the language. Whatever happens, I hope the Irish language is treasured and preserved for the next generations.
In Wales, there's a real mix of how much Welsh is spoken between regions. I used to live in an area where I'd very rarely here Welsh spoken, but a friend of mine came from another area of Wales where she, and many of her friends, routinely spoke it in daily life.
In Wales, all official writing and signage is bilingual Welsh and English, and all children in Wales are taught at least some Welsh in school.
It is good to hear that people are still using it in daily life! I heard that Welsh is spoken by young people too? I knew a guy from the south of Wales who spoke some Welsh from school but that was about it.
Cornish actually went extinct in the late 1700s, which I found interesting. It was only revived in the early 1900s, looks like it still has a long way to go.
The Welsh language appears to be the healthiest Celtic language, with strongholds and hundreds of thousands of native speakers in the northwest. There are Welsh speakers in Patagonia from an old colony, but they number perhaps only a thousand or two.
The Irish language is today the second strongest Celtic language. Although its Gaeltachtaí have been declining, the language is a national language of Ireland, and has grown in urban centres like Dublin.
Scottish Gaelic is in slow decline in the Western Islands (where it is still a majority), with some revival happening in Glasgow. It is also spoken in Nova Scotia by a few hundred native speakers, and a thousand more know the language, however its decline has been faster than in Scotland.
Manx was declared extinct in 2009, and its last native speaker died in the 1977. However, it is undergoing a revival on the Isle of Man, and this is helped by how recently the language was natively spoken on the island (we know how the language sounds, for example).
...this is unlike Cornish, the most humble Celtic language today and only spoken by a few hundred people who are dedicated to giving the tongue a second life. Cornish died out in the early 19th Century, and therefore had to be reconstructed as Cornish people recover their heritage language once more.
In Wales, all official writing and signage is bilingual Welsh and English, and all children in Wales are taught at least some Welsh in school.