> Prof Watson is director of Ionad Eeghainn MhicLachlainn: the National Centre for Gaelic Translation (NCGT), which exists specifically to support the translation of literature into Gaelic, as well as Manx and Irish.
It's interesting that unmodified "Gaelic" apparently refers to Scots Gaelic in Wales. If you asked me about "Gaelic", I'd assume you meant Irish Gaelic.
As others have commented, the Irish language is called Irish when describing it in English, and Gaeilge in the language itself.
Online people can get a bit snippy about calling it the wrong thing, even though they don't necessarily have a great grasp of the language itself. There's a lot of post-colonial baggage with regard to people's relationship with the language (IMO)
In Ireland, the term Gaelic typically refers to the general Irish identity and culture. Almost always, when people use the term Gaelic in everyday speech they're referring to Gaelic Games, which are the indigenous sports of Ireland. Gaelic Football, Hurling, Handball, and rounders. The GAA ( Gaelic Athletic Association ) that governs the games are in every village, town, and city, and the sports are probably the strongest expression of Gaelic culture in the country.
It's theorized that Gaelic was introduced to Scotland from Ireland only in the 5h century or so. We know very little about Pictish that was spoken there before it, it was probably Celtic but we don't even know that for sure.
As a complete layman with a curiosity-based interest, I'd have to guess it was (what is now called) Welsh, surely?
Could it have been some lost continental Germanic/Celtic tribe? Seems less likely on balance. Maybe a big discovery still to come that will clear it up. A tomb somewhere under a housing estate in Glasgow or something.
Not sure where you're from, but the way it seems to have fallen now is Irish Gaelic is called Irish and Gaelic (pronounced "gallic") is usually the Scottish variant.
Unless you know better, or of some reform, in which case I defer!
These languages, sadly largely killed off in the name of I don't know what, are as the final Tolkien quote in the comment says: the senior languages of Britain.
Fun fact; Cumbria is named in the same way as Cymru, as Welsh was once spoken there too.
I've never seen a video where Welsh/Breton/Cornish speakers have tried to have conversation, but have seen a few Irish/[Scottish] Gaelic conversations.
And at one point way back they all would have been intelligible. Shame it didn't follow the Scandinavian evolution, or they may have had an easier way back from having a "prestige language" take over.
I'd imagine so, yes, before being pushed back to the edges and corners of the islands. Shame the warrior culture took over a less militarily focused one. History rhymes, no?
And it's not like Celtic societies were particularly know for their pacifism.
Of course its speculation from my side but it wouldn't be surprising if it was related to the Romans effectively "demilitarizing" the local society to reduce the likelihood of rebellions and general civil unrest.
That might have worked fine enough as long you had a professional army guarding the borders but when that army was gone everyone was effectively left defenceless.
Something like that seemed to have happening in Spain and Gaul as well. Except unlike in Britain the local populations managed to somewhat assimilate their Germanic overlords.
This is great to see! I happen to be traveling in Wales when I saw this headline. I was listening to Welsh radio on the drive in for a bit just cause it's fascinating. It's a unique sounding language.
> Prof Watson is director of Ionad Eeghainn MhicLachlainn: the National Centre for Gaelic Translation (NCGT), which exists specifically to support the translation of literature into Gaelic, as well as Manx and Irish.
It's interesting that unmodified "Gaelic" apparently refers to Scots Gaelic in Wales. If you asked me about "Gaelic", I'd assume you meant Irish Gaelic.
As others have commented, the Irish language is called Irish when describing it in English, and Gaeilge in the language itself.
Online people can get a bit snippy about calling it the wrong thing, even though they don't necessarily have a great grasp of the language itself. There's a lot of post-colonial baggage with regard to people's relationship with the language (IMO)
In Ireland, the term Gaelic typically refers to the general Irish identity and culture. Almost always, when people use the term Gaelic in everyday speech they're referring to Gaelic Games, which are the indigenous sports of Ireland. Gaelic Football, Hurling, Handball, and rounders. The GAA ( Gaelic Athletic Association ) that governs the games are in every village, town, and city, and the sports are probably the strongest expression of Gaelic culture in the country.
Some highlights of the 2 most popular games.
Gaelic Football https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT5Zjx4fTXI
Hurling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1Vw66Zs0dQ
It's theorized that Gaelic was introduced to Scotland from Ireland only in the 5h century or so. We know very little about Pictish that was spoken there before it, it was probably Celtic but we don't even know that for sure.
As a complete layman with a curiosity-based interest, I'd have to guess it was (what is now called) Welsh, surely?
Could it have been some lost continental Germanic/Celtic tribe? Seems less likely on balance. Maybe a big discovery still to come that will clear it up. A tomb somewhere under a housing estate in Glasgow or something.
Not sure where you're from, but the way it seems to have fallen now is Irish Gaelic is called Irish and Gaelic (pronounced "gallic") is usually the Scottish variant.
Unless you know better, or of some reform, in which case I defer!
It does appear to be true that the government of Ireland prefers to call the language "Irish". https://www.ireland.ie/en/technology-fuelling-global-irish-l...
I'm from the United States.
(While we're here, we might also note that the term "Erse", referring to Scots Gaelic, is in fact the word "Irish".)
Really great to see.
These languages, sadly largely killed off in the name of I don't know what, are as the final Tolkien quote in the comment says: the senior languages of Britain.
Fun fact; Cumbria is named in the same way as Cymru, as Welsh was once spoken there too.
I've never seen a video where Welsh/Breton/Cornish speakers have tried to have conversation, but have seen a few Irish/[Scottish] Gaelic conversations.
And at one point way back they all would have been intelligible. Shame it didn't follow the Scandinavian evolution, or they may have had an easier way back from having a "prestige language" take over.
> Fun fact; Cumbria is named in the same way as Cymru, as Welsh was once spoken there too.
Wasn't that how all Britons referred to themselves throughout what is now England back in the day?
I'd imagine so, yes, before being pushed back to the edges and corners of the islands. Shame the warrior culture took over a less militarily focused one. History rhymes, no?
And it's not like Celtic societies were particularly know for their pacifism.
Of course its speculation from my side but it wouldn't be surprising if it was related to the Romans effectively "demilitarizing" the local society to reduce the likelihood of rebellions and general civil unrest.
That might have worked fine enough as long you had a professional army guarding the borders but when that army was gone everyone was effectively left defenceless.
Something like that seemed to have happening in Spain and Gaul as well. Except unlike in Britain the local populations managed to somewhat assimilate their Germanic overlords.
This is great to see! I happen to be traveling in Wales when I saw this headline. I was listening to Welsh radio on the drive in for a bit just cause it's fascinating. It's a unique sounding language.
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