Re: Gaelic or what?

Michael Adams wrote:
> Got tongue whipped cause I called Irish as Irish Gaelic,
IME the Irish do like their national language to be called 'Irish',
which seems reasonable to me.

> as well as called in a Lingo,
As I have pointed out before now, in some (many?) parts of the English
speaking world, 'lingo' has a derogatory meaning. It suggests that one
despises the language.

> or called it Erse Gaelic.. Claimed that
> Erse is like being called the N word or like..
I am afraid you guilty on two accounts there: firstly the term 'Erse'
was applied by the English to _Scots_ Gaelic, not to Irish. Secondly,
yes, it was deliberately offensive. It dates back to the time of the
Jacobite rebellions when the English, aided & abetted by Scots
Lowlanders, attempted to eradicate Highland culture.

I do appreciate that you made these 'transgressions' quite innocently.
But I hope the above explains why they caused offense.
===================================

Sally Caves wrote:
 > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe" <joe@...>
 >
 >>> Not always, if I can take this information as truth:  I spoke to a
 >>> woman from Scotland recently who kindly explained to me that the
 >>> pronunciation "Gallic" is used by those who refer to it within Scots
 >>> Gaelic.  She said that non-speakers pronounce it "Gaelic," and that
 >>> for someone like myself to say "Oh, then, to you speak *gallic*?" is
 >>> a little like saying "Oh, then, do you speak Francais?"  I was much
 >>> chagrined.
 >>
 >>
 >> That's really not true.  Well, except among the less informed of
 >> Scots, perhaps.  But certainly the normal pronunciation by people in
 >> the know is 'Gallic'.
 >
 > "Certainly" seems a word one must use cautiously, Joe.

I agree one must use "certainly" with caution, by my experience has been
the same as Joe's.

[snip]
 > Seriously: what is your source of information?  Do you or
 > have you lived among the Scots?

I cannot, of course, speak for Joe - but in my case the answer is "yes".
That includes staying with a gallic speaking family. It also concurs
with my experience working with Scots colleagues over the years. Mine is
most certainly (and I mean 'certainly') not the result of academic
concepts, but of practical experience.

And, with respect to Sally's informant, the equivalent of "Oh, then, do
you speak Français?" is "Oh, then, do you speak Gàidhlig?"

[snip]
 > I'm willing to be corrected, because that's the pronunciation (gallic) I
 > had always been taught.  My chagrin would be lifted. ;)

Sally, IMO your chagrin can be lifted. It seems to me that you were
simply unfortunate with the person you met.

--
Ray
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ray@carolandray.plus.com
http://www.carolandray.plus.com
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MAKE POVERTY HISTORY


--
Ray
==================================
ray@carolandray.plus.com
http://www.carolandray.plus.com
==================================
MAKE POVERTY HISTORY

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