Beurla Reagaird

Beurla Reagaird
Pronunciation [ˈpjɤːrˠlˠ̪ə ˈɾɛkərˠtʲ]
Spoken in  Scotland
Region  Scotland Scottish Highlands & Western Isles
Native speakers Nearly extinct  (date missing)
Language family
Language codes
ISO 639-3 –

Beurla Reagaird is a nearly extinct, Gaelic-based cant used by the indigenous Highland Scottish Travellers.[1][2]

Name

Beurla Reagaird (previously also spelled Beurla Reagair) loosely translates as "speech of metalworkers".[3] Although Beurla today refers to the English language, its original meaning is that of "jargon" (from Old Irish bélre, bél "mouth" plus the abstract forming suffix -re[4]), with the second element being linked to the word eagar "order, array, arrangement" (cf. the Irish Béarla na Saor "speech of the smiths").[5]

References

  1. ^ Evans, S. Stopping Places – A Gipsy History of South London and Kent (1999) Hertfordshire Press ISBN 1-902806-30-1
  2. ^ "Beurla-reagaird (Travellers' Gaelic Cant)". Am Baile. http://www.ambaile.org.uk/en/item/item_audio.jsp?item_id=85786. Retrieved 7 March 2010. 
  3. ^ Kirk, J. & Ó Baoill, D. Travellers and their Language (2002) Queen's University Belfast ISBN 0-85389-832-4
  4. ^ MacBain, A. An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language (1896; 1982 reprint) Gairm ISBN 901771-68-6
  5. ^ Neat, T. The Summer Walkers (1996; 1997 reprint) ISBN 0-86241-576-4

See also