Wiki on Minority Language Learning

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====== Shelta in The Republic of Ireland ======

===== Shelta =====
==== Language designations: ====
  * In the language itself: //[the] Cant// or //[de] Gammon// or //Tarri// 
  * [[general_information:glossary_of_terms#ISO 639-3|ISO 639-3]] standard: //sth//

==== Language vitality according to: ====

^  [[https://en.wal.unesco.org/|UNESCO]]  ^  [[https://www.ethnologue.com/|Ethnologue]]  ^  [[http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/|Endangered Languages]]  ^  [[https://glottolog.org/| Glottolog]]  ^
| // Site under construction (7.10.25) // | //{{ :endangerment:blue.png?nolink | Stable }}// | //{{ :endangerment:blue.png?nolink | Vulnurable }}// |  //{{ :endangerment:green.png?nolink | Not endangered}}//  |
<sup> Click [[manual:colour_codes|here]] for a full overview of the language vitality colour codes. </sup>

==== Linguistic aspects: =====
  * Classification: //Speech Register// → //Irish-English// → //Shelta//. For more information, see //[[https://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/shel1236 | Shelta]]// at [[https://glottolog.org|Glottolog]]
  * Script: //Latin//

==== Language standardisation ====

There are no standard spelling conventions used in Shelta, and it has and remains a largely unwritten language.((https://www.paveepoint.ie/traveller-factsheets/)) The language's lexicon mainly derives from Irish, while the structure is based on English.((Velupillai, V. (2015). //Pidgins, Creoles and mixed languages : an introduction.// John Benjamins Publishing Company. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1996995))  Shelta can follow an Irish-style orthography or an English-style orthography.((Kirk, J.; Ó Baoill, D., eds. (2002). //Travellers and Their Language.// Queen's University Belfast. ISBN 0-85389-832-4.))


===== Demographics =====

==== Language Area ====

Shelta is a mixed language, often referred to as a secret language, spoken by the traditionally nomadic Irish Traveller community.((Velupillai, V. (2015). //Pidgins, Creoles and mixed languages : an introduction.// John Benjamins Publishing Company. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1996995)) The Irish Traveller community is spread across the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.((Rieder, M., Rieder, & Scott. (2018). //Irish Traveller Language// (1st ed). Springer International Publishing. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-76714-7)) Due to a long history of discrimination, Irish Travellers are less nomadic and live throughout the Republic of Ireland, with large Irish Traveller communities seen in Galway City, Longford, and Offaly.((Central statistics office. (2023, October 26). Irish Travellers Census of Population 2022 Profile 5 - Diversity, Migration, Ethnicity, Irish Travellers & Religion - Central Statistics Office. Www.cso.ie. https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpp5/censusofpopulation2022profile5-diversitymigrationethnicityirishtravellersreligion/irishtravellers/)) Unfortunately, there is no information about the exact number of speakers in each of these areas across the Republic of Ireland. 
==== Speaker numbers ====

It is estimated that there are about 6,000 Shelta speakers in the Republic of Ireland and around 86,000 speakers worldwide, mainly in English-speaking areas.((Rieder, M., Rieder, & Scott. (2018). //Irish Traveller Language// (1st ed). Springer International Publishing. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-76714-7))

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====== Education of the language ======
===== History of language education: =====

Shelta is not taught in schools in the Republic of Ireland. There is debate within the Traveller community about whether or not Shelta should be taught in schools.((Cant / Gammon - Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. (2021, November 16). Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. https://nationalinventoryich.ccs.gov.ie/cant-gammon/))
===== Legislation of language education =====
==== Legislation on European level ====

**Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities**

The Republic of Ireland has [[general_information:glossary_of_terms#signature_of_a_treaty | signed]] and [[general_information:glossary_of_terms#ratification_of_a_treaty | ratified]] the [[general_information:glossary_of_terms#framework_convention_for_the_protection_of_national_minorities | Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities]]

  *Irish Travellers were officially recognized as national minorities in the Republic of Ireland.
  *In the [[https://rm.coe.int/5th-op-ireland-en/1680b4868b | Fifth Opinion]] (2025), the Advisory Committee suggested that a detailed plan for the revitalization of Shelta be created alongside persons from the Traveller community. The opinion mentions the importance of media and reaching younger generations.  


**European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages**

The Republic of Ireland has not [[general_information:glossary_of_terms#signature_of_a_treaty | signed]] the [[general_information:glossary_of_terms#european_charter_for_regional_and_minority_languages|European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages]].


==== Legislation on national level ====

In 2019, Shelta, referred to here as //Cant//, was officially added to [[https://nationalinventoryich.ccs.gov.ie/cant-gammon/ | Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage]]. In doing this, Ireland formally acknowledges the Traveller language as a living cultural heritage and vows to protect and promote it. 

**NCCA Traveller culture and history in the curriculum: a curriculum audit**

In 2018, the Irish Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, T.D., asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) for an audit of Traveller culture and history in public school curriculum. ((Traveller culture and history in the curriculum: a curriculum audit. (2019). https://ncca.ie/media/4613/travellerculturehistory.pdf)) [[https://ncca.ie/media/4613/travellerculturehistory.pdf | The audit]] (2018) gave suggestions on how to teach the Traveller culture and history and how to include it in existing curricular subjects. Please note that in the audit, the language is referred to as //Cant//.

  *In the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework section [[https://ncca.ie/media/4613/travellerculturehistory.pdf|(pg 38)]], an example of a "learning experience" regarding Traveller culture mentions the Cant language. The example suggests that the use of Cant words by young Traveller children while playing together with non-Traveller children could spark curiosity in non-Traveller parents. This would, in turn, help other children learn more about Traveller culture and their language.
  *In the Framework for Junior Cycle section [[https://ncca.ie/media/4613/travellerculturehistory.pdf|(pg 60)]], Cant is recommended to be included in 1 of the 5 "Priority Learning Units" (PLUs). The audit states that within the Communication and Literacy PLU: "Communication can also take account of Cant, the language of the Irish Travelling community." 
==== Legislation on local level ====

There are no specific laws regarding Shelta at the local level.
==== Bodies controlling enforcement on education on the language ====

Shelta is not taught in schools in the Republic of Ireland.

===== Support structure for education of the language: =====

  
==== Institutional support ====
 
Creative Ireland in 2021 offered a workshop, [[https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/event/art-interactions-iv-language-and-diversity/#:~:text=Art%20Interactions%20IV%20%2D%20Language%20and%20Diversity,training%20in%20cross%2Dcultural%20collaboration%20for%20AAEX%20members. | Art Interactions IV - Language and Diversity ]], which offered artists an art program focusing on linguistic diversity, specifically mentioning immigrants and "speakers of sign language, Irish, Cant Gammon/Shelta or others."

Dublin's 2023 Heritage Week included a [[https://www.paveepoint.ie/workshop-on-cant-during-heritage-week/ | Workshop on Cant]] from Traveller author Oein de Bhardúin. 



==== Financial support ====

There is no financial support for the education of Shelta in the Republic of Ireland. 
==== Language learning materials: ====

  *[[https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/ | Friends, Families and Travellers]] has created an online [[https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/irish-cant-or-de-gammon/ | list of translations]] for a few Cant words and phrases into English.  
  *They also developed [[https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GRTHM-Language-cards-2-1.pdf | infographics]] for Shelta, there called //Irish Cant//, Scottish Cant, and Romani Dialect with some information on and English translations of each language.

==== Teacher support ==== 

There is no teacher support for Shelta in the Republic of Ireland.

===== Education presence =====

Shelta is not taught in schools in the Republic of Ireland, but Traveller culture and history has been mentioned in curriculum development.((Traveller culture and history in the curriculum: a curriculum audit. (2019). https://ncca.ie/media/4613/travellerculturehistory.pdf))
==== Preschool Education====

Shelta is not a part of preschool education in the Republic of Ireland.
==== Primary Education====

Shelta is not a part of primary education in the Republic of Ireland.
==== Secondary Education====

Shelta is not a part of secondary education in the Republic of Ireland.
==== Vocational Education ====

Shelta is not a part of vocational education in the Republic of Ireland.
==== Higher Education/University Education ====

Shelta is not a part of higher education/university education in the Republic of Ireland.

==== Adult Education ====

Shelta is not a part of adult education in the Republic of Ireland.

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===== Online learning resources =====


==== Organisations ====

[[https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/ | Friends, Families and Travellers.]] Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) is an organization that advocates for "Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people" to continue their nomadic lifestyle.

[[https://itmtrav.ie/ |Irish Traveller Movement.]] The Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) is a national organization created to support members of the Travelling community. 

[[https://www.paveepoint.ie/ | Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.]] The Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre is a national NGO focused on promoting human rights from the local to international level, specifically for the Traveller and Roma communities. 
==== Online resources ====

[[https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/irish-cant-or-de-gammon/ | Translations]] of a few Cant words and phrases into English.  

[[https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GRTHM-Language-cards-2-1.pdf | Infographics]] for Shelta, there called //Irish Cant//, Scottish Cant, and Romani Dialect with some information on and English translations of each language.
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