Gàidhlig / English
Buaidh Gàidhlig na h-Èireann air 'Shelta'

Buaidh Gàidhlig na h-Èireann air 'Shelta'

Posted by Calum on 7th September, 2023
Shelta: There are many names for Shelta: Gammon, Tarri, Thari, Minklers, Shelter, Tinker’s Cant, etc. It is another mixed language, or a cant, that the Irish Travellers - or "Mincéirí" - can speak, and others in Scotland and England. There are many hidden-languages, or cants, that the Scottish Travellers can speak: Scottish Cant, Romani, Beurla Reagaird, Polari and others. We have had a look at Beurla Reagaird in another very interesting blog that was written, a traveller's hidden-language that came from Scottish Gaelic but I would like to have a look at a hidden-language from another Celtic language, Irish Gaelic: Shelta.

Just like Beurla Reagaird the lexicon of the language comes from Irish. Despite the roots of the language, and quite unlike Beurla Reagaird, English has had a strong influence on the structure and grammer of the language, therefore, the language is not influenced only by Celtic languages but with a Germanic influence, the influence of English. Despite the strong influence of Hiberno-Englisg on the language the vocabulary of Irish has a strong impact on the language still.
Shelta is a mixed language because it was spoken so others that would not understand it would be perplexed and for hiding information from them without them understanding. There are common features to the language that are clear to see and hear for hiding the meaning of the words or, therefore, the meaning of the sentence:
  1. Some of the words have the letters at each end of the word are swapped, e.g., “kam” (“mac”), “gop” (“póg”), “lackin” (“cailín”).
  2. Some of the words have letters added to the words, e.g. “gather” (“g + athair”), “gruber” (“gr + obair”), “talósc” (“lá + osc”), “grimisher” (“gr + aimsear”).
  3. Some of the words have some of their letters subtracted, e.g., “lí” (“leaba”), “pí” (“béal”).
  4. Some letters have been changed with other letters, e.g., “Slunya” (gloinne), “graura” (samhradh), gránya (“fáinne”).
 
Vocabulary
  • Ad/Od – Dó [1]
  • Acháram – Amárach [4]
  • Ayen – Naoi [1]
  • Charp – Dearb[h] [2]
  • Dai – Déag [3]
  • G-ather – Athair (g + athair) [2]
  • Gop – Póg [1]
  • Granko – [Cearc] Francach [1+3]
  • Gránnum – (“Grainery”) Gráinne [2]
  • Granyo – Fáinne [2]
  • Graura – Samhradh [1+2]
  • Grarro – Searrach (“foal”) [1+2]
  • Grenog – Fuinneag [2]
  • Griwog – Siabhróg [4]
  • Groog – Gruaig
  • Gr-imisher – Aimsir [2] (gr + aimsir)
  • Gruber – Obair [2] (gr + obair)
  • Hinniadh – Aon déag [1]
  • Innic – Aon [2]
  • Jummik – Domhnach [4]
  • Kam – Mac [1]
  • Kephal – Capal [4]
  • Lackin – Cailín [1]
  • Lí – Leaba [3]
  • Lúrógs – Léir [3]
  • Máilles – Lámh/Meur? [2]
  • Múgathom – Amadán [1+2]
  • Nap – Bán [1]
  • Noid – Duine [4]
  • Nook – Ceann [1]
  • Nucel – Coinneal [1]
  • Nup – Muin[eál] [4]
  • Pí – Béal [3]
  • Rag – Carr [1]
  • Rodas – Doras [1]
  • Shalawa – Balbh (“dumb”) [4]
  • Shako – Peacadh [4]
  • Sharrog – Dearg [2]
  • Shúka – Cúig [4]
  • S-lun – Luan (S + Lùan) [2]
  • Slúnya – Gloinne [4]
  • Sroijin – Maidin [4]
  • Tomgarheid – trom airgead (òr)
  • Tha-lósc – Lá (lá + osc) [4]
  • Tórog – Tóraí/Toruighe (“Mumper, Beggar”) [4]
  • Tróopers – Treabhsar [4]
  • Uist – Wisht!
 
More can be read about Shelta in Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness XXIV for more information. Do you recognise any other the words or phrases above? Do you know of any words or phrases in Shelta? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our own website!
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