Irish Travelers, sometimes called tinkers or gypsies (but no relation to the Romani) are a nomadic Irish people currently numbering about 20,000 in Ireland with populations in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and America. DNA shows they are a distinct Irish people separated from the mainstream Irish at least 1000 years ago.
Travelers speak English plus a private patois that combines English and old Gaelic with some unique word structures. Shelta, the most common, has been dated to the 1700's, but may have originated in the 13th century. Their ‘moral’ principles are codified in the Travelers Code, but Travelers are often associated with criminal behavior. Every year during Christmas they come from all over the world to visit the village of Rathkeale, their spiritual home. Elaborate weddings and christenings are held but marred by violence from inter clan rivalries.
The population is dwindling due to a declining birth rate, high infant mortality rate, poor group health, and a high traffic accident death rate.
Brad Pitt played an irish ruffian bare-fisted boxer in a movie not long ago. I thought it was funny the way he portrayed his accent. It was like gibberish with only one or two words understandable. I thought it clever of him to not have to sound fakey but maybe it was the Traverler Patois.
ReplyDeletebtw. I couldn't understand him in Inglorious Basterds either.
useful post...explains my difficult relatives!
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