Revision as of 20:19, 13 August 2009 by Rosbot(talk | contribs)(New page: <table valign=top> <tr> <td valign=top align=left width="50%"> <table valign=top> <tr><td><b>Also Known As:</b> The Cant,Cant,Sheldru,Irish Traveler Cant,Gammon,Shelta ...)
Also Known As: The Cant,Cant,Sheldru,Irish Traveler Cant,Gammon,Shelta
Description:
Shelta (also known as Gammen, Sheldru, Pavee, Caintíotar or simply "The Cant") is a language spoken by the Irish Traveller people. It was often used to conceal meaning from those outside the group. The language is found throughout Ireland, but is more concentrated in the south-east part of the country.
Shelta is a cant originally based on Irish with some English influences. Because Shelta originates from older versions of Irish, it was originally part of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic language family. However, its syntax is now primarily English based and has been heavily influenced by other non-Celtic languages. As a result, Shelta has a character very different from other Goidelic Celtic languages.
It has been suggested that the word "Shelta" derives from the Irish word "siúlta", meaning "of walking", possibly referring to the Traveller lifestyle. The word “Shelta” first appeared in 1882 in the book The Gypsies by “gypsiologist” Charles Leland, who claimed to have discovered it as the “fifth Celtic tongue”. Shelta is the term still preferred by some today, more so amongst academics than the Travellers themselves. Linguists have been documenting Shelta since at least the 1870s...... full article at Wikipedia
