Around 86.000 Irish Travellers live all over the world and define themselves by an unusual and unique lifestyle. They see themselves as a distinct ethnic group that lives within settled society. This view is underlined by a language that is only spoken amongst the members of the travelling community. Shelta – a language which strongly withholds the grip of linguistic researchers until today and which also protects its speakers and the community’s identity from non-acceptance and feelings of inferiority. In advance I have to make clear that many – though interesting – but conflicting assumptions have been made on Irish Travellers and have yet to be proven. Not only more research has to be done in order to discover the roots of Travellers and their language, but also a way has to be found to make it possible for Irish Travellers to feel like a part of the society they live in. In my paper I will briefly introduce the most important issues on Irish Travellers, go more into detail concerning the use and the structure of Shelta, and discuss the assumptions on its origin and value.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Irish Travellers
- 2.1 History and Origin
- 2.2 Culture and Ethnicity
- 3. Travellers' 'Secret' Language
- 3.1 The Use of Shelta
- 3.2 Language Structure and Origin
- 3.3 Identity through Language
- 4. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to provide an overview of the Irish Traveller community, focusing on their history, culture, and the unique role of their language, Shelta, in shaping their identity. The paper explores the challenges in researching this secretive community and highlights the importance of understanding their perspective.
- The history and origins of Irish Travellers
- The culture and ethnicity of Irish Travellers
- The use and structure of the Shelta language
- The role of Shelta in maintaining Traveller identity
- The challenges of researching the Traveller community
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by establishing the context of the Irish Traveller community—approximately 86,000 people worldwide—and their unique lifestyle. It highlights Shelta, their largely secretive language, as a crucial element of their identity and a significant hurdle for linguistic researchers. The introduction also acknowledges the scarcity of verifiable information and the need for further research to accurately understand the Travellers' history and their place within settled society. The author emphasizes the importance of fostering a sense of belonging for Irish Travellers within the broader societal context.
2. Irish Travellers: This chapter delves into the history and culture of the Irish Traveller community. Section 2.1, "History and Origin," addresses the challenges of tracing their origins, highlighting the limited and often conflicting historical sources. It explores several hypotheses regarding their ancestry, emphasizing the lack of definitive answers and the role of historical events, such as the Irish Famine and Highland Clearances, in shaping their migratory patterns and societal perception. The secretive nature of the community is underscored, making accurate historical reconstruction difficult. Section 2.2, "Culture and Ethnicity," defines the Irish Travellers as a distinct ethnic group based on their shared culture, history, and language. It emphasizes the self-identification as a separate group, the importance of endogamy, and their unique material culture adapted to their nomadic lifestyle. The chapter highlights the significant cultural differences between Travellers and settled communities.
Keywords
Irish Travellers, Shelta, nomadic lifestyle, ethnicity, culture, language, history, linguistic research, identity, social inclusion.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Irish Travellers and Shelta
What is the main topic of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of the Irish Traveller community, focusing on their history, culture, and the unique role of their language, Shelta, in shaping their identity. It explores the challenges in researching this community and highlights the importance of understanding their perspective.
What topics are covered in the Table of Contents?
The Table of Contents includes an introduction, a section on Irish Travellers (covering their history and origin, and culture and ethnicity), a section on the Travellers' "secret" language Shelta (including its use, structure and origin, and its role in identity), and a conclusion.
What are the key objectives and themes of this paper?
The paper aims to provide an overview of the Irish Traveller community, focusing on their history, culture, and the role of Shelta in shaping their identity. Key themes include the history and origins of Irish Travellers, their culture and ethnicity, the use and structure of Shelta, its role in maintaining Traveller identity, and the challenges of researching this community.
What is Shelta, and why is it important to the Irish Traveller community?
Shelta is the largely secretive language of the Irish Traveller community. It plays a crucial role in shaping their identity and maintaining their cultural distinctiveness. The document explores its use, structure, and origins.
What are the challenges in researching the Irish Traveller community?
Researching the Irish Traveller community presents significant challenges due to the community's secretive nature and the scarcity of verifiable information. The limited and often conflicting historical sources make accurate historical reconstruction difficult.
What does the chapter on Irish Travellers cover?
This chapter explores the history and origins of Irish Travellers, addressing the difficulties in tracing their ancestry and the impact of historical events on their migratory patterns. It also defines Irish Travellers as a distinct ethnic group, emphasizing their shared culture, history, language, and the importance of endogamy.
What are the key takeaways from the chapter on Shelta?
This section details the use of Shelta within the community, examines its linguistic structure and possible origins, and highlights its importance in maintaining Traveller identity and cultural cohesion.
What are the key words associated with this document?
Key words include: Irish Travellers, Shelta, nomadic lifestyle, ethnicity, culture, language, history, linguistic research, identity, and social inclusion.
What is the estimated population of Irish Travellers?
The document mentions that there are approximately 86,000 Irish Travellers worldwide.
What is the overall goal of this document?
The overall goal is to increase understanding and awareness of the Irish Traveller community, their history, culture, language, and the challenges they face, promoting greater social inclusion.
- Quote paper
- Aria Reid (Author), 2011, Irish Travellers' Shelta - A Future Language or a Future for the Language, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/210261
