Shelta

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A language of Ireland

Alternate Names
Bog Latin, Cant, Gammon, Irish Traveler Cant, Sheldru, Shelter, Shelterorch, Tarri, The Cant, Tinker’s Cant, the Ould Thing
Autonym
De Gammon
User Population

27,000 in Ireland (2008 A. Redmond). Total users in all countries: 50,700.

Location

Major cities.

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Dialects

None known. Based largely on Irish [gle] with influence from an undocumented source.

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

The secret language, or cryptolect, of Travellers in the British Isles. Not Roma.

Also spoken in:

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