Shelta Totally Explained

Everything about Shelta totally explained

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 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.

Origins and history

It has been suggested that the word "Shelta" derives from the Irish word "siúlta", meaning "of walking", possibly referring to the Traveler 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 Travelers themselves. Linguists have been documenting Shelta since at least the 1870s. Celtic language expert Kuno Meyer and Romany expert John Sampson both assert that Shelta existed as far back as the 13th century. There are now approximately 86,000 worldwide speakers of Shelta, with anywhere from 6,000-25,000 in Ireland itself according to various sources. The language is spoken almost exclusively by Travellers. Much of Shelta's vocabulary is based loosely on Irish, with many words inverted in a style not unlike French verlan slang. For example, the Sheltan word for “girl” is “laicín”, from the Irish “cailín”, and the word “rodas”, meaning “door”, has its roots in the Irish “doras”. The language's structure also contains many grammatical similarities with English. It also contains elements of Romany languages (such as the term "gadje”, meaning "non-Traveler"), though the Travelers are not actual Roma. An example of a Shelta word that now has common usage in everyday speech in Britain is the word “bloke” meaning “a man”, originating in the mid-19th century. It probably derives from the Irish word "buachaill", meaning “boy” or "lad". Sociologist Sharon Gmelch describes the Travelers' language as follows:
Phonology

Vowels

	Front	N.-front	Central	Back
Close	i			u
Near-close		ɪ
Close-mid	e			o
Mid			ə
Open-Mid	ɛ			ɔ
Near-open	æ
Open				ɑ•ɒ

Consonants

Comparison texts

Below are reproductions of the Lord's Prayer in Shelta as it occurred a century ago, Irish Traveller Cant, and modern English and Irish versions for comparison. The 19th century Shelta version shows a high Shelta lexical content while the Cant version a much lower Shelta lexical content. Both versions are adapted from Hancock who notes that the Cant reproduction isn't exactly representative of actual speech in normal situations. ť Mwilsha's gater, swart a manyath, (Shelta)

    Our gathra, who cradgies in the manyak-norch, (Cant)
ť Our Father, who art in heaven, (English)

    Ár n-Athair atá ar neamh, (Irish)
ť Manyi graw a kradji dilsha's manik.

    We turry kerrath about your moniker.
ť Hallowed be thy Name.

    Go naofar d'ainm,
ť Graw bi greydid, sheydi laadu

    Let's turry to the norch where your jeel cradgies,
ť Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done,

    Go dtaga do ríocht, Go ndéantar do thoil
ť Az aswart in manyath.

    And let your jeel shans get greydied nosher same as it's where you cradgie.
ť On earth as it's in heaven.

    ar an talamh, mar a dhéantar ar neamh.
ť Bag mwilsha talosk minyart goshta dura.

    Bug us eynik to lush this thullis,
ť Give us this day our daily bread.

    Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dúinn inniu,
ť Geychel aur shaaku areyk mwilsha

    And turri us you're nijesh sharrig for the gammy eyniks we greydied
ť And forgive us our trespasses,

    Agus maith dúinn ár bhfiacha
ť Geychas needjas greydi gyamyath mwilsha.

    Just like we ain't sharrig at the gammi needies that greydi the same to us.
ť As we forgive those who trespass against us.

    Mar a mhaithimidne dár bhféichiúna féin
ť Nijesh solk mwil start gyamyath,

    Nijesh let us soonie eyniks that'll make us greydi gammy eyniks,
ť And lead us not into temptation,

    Ach ná lig sinn i gcathú
ť Bat bog mwilsha ahim gyamyath.

    But solk us away from the taddy.
ť But deliver us from evil.

    Ach saor sinn ó olc.
ť Diyil the sridag, taajirath an manyath

    [noCant]
ť For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

    Mar is leatsa an ríocht, an chumhacht, agus an ghlóir
ť Gradum a gradum.

    [noCant]
ť For ever and ever.

    Trí shaol na saol.
ť [noShelta]

    [noCant]
ť Amen.

    Amen.

Bibliography

The Secret Languages of Ireland by R. A. Stewart Macalister. Craobh Rua Books

Further Information

Get more info on 'Shelta'.

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