Re: Gaelic or what?

----- 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.  Perhaps there are
regional attitudes in parts of Scotland whereby some people regard
non-speakers who say "gallic" as being a bit affected.  I can't remember
where she's from, but as I have never lived in Scotland and she has, I'm
inclined to take her word for this *as she understands it among her own
community.*  Seriously: what is your source of information?  Do you or have
you lived among the Scots?  Because yours (and mine) may be academic
concepts.  Does a book exist on pronunciation of Scots Gaelic by
non-speakers?

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

Sally

E-Prime: doing away with the stark equation, avoiding the verb "is/is not"
wherever you can, and always stating the sources of your information.
Evidence morphemes. Avoids ambiguity.