Shelta

Spoken in

• Indo-European Celtic languages Insular Celtic languages Shelta

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Cel

Sth

Shelta (also known as Gammen, Sheldru or Cant ) is a mixed language, the elements of the Irish Gaelic and English origin, and characteristics of other languages ​​, such as the Romani, has. The name is probably on the Irish siúlta, the " wandering " means back. This refers to the nomadic lifestyle of their speakers: Shelta spoken of is not or only partially sedentary population of the British Isles, often the so-called Tinkers ( Pavee, Travellers ).

Due to its position as a mixed language is the assignment of Shelta, unlike the Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and Manx, controversial to the group of the Goidelic languages. The vocabulary derives primarily the Irish, while the structure more comes from the English. It is spoken in Ireland by approximately 6,000 Travellers. Worldwide, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States, one starts with up to 86,000 people who speak Shelta.

The alternative concept Cant also referred to the English argot, similar to the slang, so the technical language of the criminal underworld. Therefore, it will be rejected by many of the Travellers as stigmatizing.