Beurla Reagaird

Beurla Reagaird (Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [ˈpjɤːrˠl̪ˠə ˈɾɛkərˠtʲ]; previously also spelled Beurla Reagair or Beurla-reagaird) is a nearly extinct Scottish Gaelic–based cant used by the indigenous Traveller community of the Highlands of Scotland, formerly often referred to by the disparaging name "tinkers".^[1][2]

Beurla Reagaird
Region	Scottish Highlands
Language family	Indo-European Celtic Insular Celtic Goidelic Scottish Gaelic Beurla Reagaird
Early forms	Primitive Irish Old Irish Middle Irish Scottish Gaelic
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–
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This article is about the Gaelic-based cant. For the Scots-based cant, see Scottish Cant.

Name

Beurla Reagaird loosely translates as 'speech of metalworkers' in reference to their traditional occupation of being traveling tinsmiths.^[3] Although Beurla today refers to the English language, its original meaning is that of 'jargon' (from Old Irish bélre, bél 'mouth' plus the abstract forming suffix -re),^[4] with the second element being linked to the word eagar 'order, array, arrangement' (compare with the Irish Béarla na Saor 'speech of the smiths').^[5]

See also

• Bungi dialect
• Polari
• Shelta