Re: Irish Gaelic is evil!

Oooh, a Gaelic argument! :-)
 
Sgrìobh Stephen:
 
> First: "Gaelic" or "Scots Gaelic" (pronounced ["galIk]) is the
> name of the Goidelic language of Scotland. In Ireland we call
> our Goidelic language "Irish", not "Gaelic" or "Irish Gaelic".
> The word "Gaelic" is still used (e.g. in the name of the Gaelic
> Athletic Association), but it's then pronounced ["gajlIk]).
 
There is a widespread misconception –- not that Stephen is guilty of
this, but his message leans somewhat in this direction -- that /g&lIk/
is the language of Scotland and /gEjlIk/ is the language of Ireland, in
other words that /g&lIk/ and /gEjlIk/ are two separate things. However
this is not true: /g&lIk/ and /gEjlIk/ are mere regional variants in
pronunciation of one and the exact same word, meaning “of or pertaining
to the Gaels” (who, of course, live in both Ireland and Scotland). In
Scotland alone, i.e. in Scots and Scottish English, the pronunciation of
the word is /g&lIk/; everywhere else in the Anglophone world the
pronunciation is /gEjlIk/, including Cape Breton, where the Gaels speak
Scottish Gaelic. (And likewise, in the Celtic department at the Scottish
university I went to, reference was often made to “Irish /g&lIk/”.)
 
And while it is true that in Ireland, Irish Gaelic is always called
“Irish” (and likewise, Manx Gaelic is called simply “Manx” in the Isle
of Man) the full form “Irish Gaelic” is not uncommon elsewhere.  It is
also true that Scottish Gaelic is called simply “Gaelic” in Scotland,
but then it’s the only sort there is, so there’s no need to distinguish
(not to mention the fact that the name “Scots” already refers to a
different language!). However, all of these distinctions are made only
in English. When speaking Gaelic of any variety, it is always “Gaelic”:
Irish “Gaeilge”, Scottish “Gàidhlig”, Manx “Gaelg”. It’s those darn
English speaking folk that like to keep “Irish” stuff distinct from
“Scottish” stuff; once you switch into Gaelic, though, it’s all about
the cultural unity! ;-)
 
Le deagh dhùrachd and all that,
 
Tòmas
...stirrin’ up the Goidelic Goblet!
 
 
 
 
 
 

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