Forgotten Languages

Two songs in lost languages of the UK and Ireland. They are sung by people who have some remaining knowledge of the languages. Before I provide translations see if you can identify the languages and what they are singing about.

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InstructHer · 61-69, M

First could be Romani. The second Wexford English?

JoeXP · 56-60, M

@InstructHer 1. Is not Romani 2. Is correct - to be precise Forth and Bargy

InstructHer · 61-69, M

@JoeXP an Elizabethan remnant

ArishMell · 70-79, M

I'dguess by the accents:

1) Gaelic.

2) Celtic.

Though neither languages are all that "forgotten" so I could well be wrong.

They have to some extent at least been revived; though I've never worked out how you bring modern words into a language that has been dormant for generation..

JoeXP · 56-60, M

@ArishMell Good try but as you say Gaelic is still a living language with over 50,000 speakers. Both these languages are extinct and they are not Celtic.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@JoeXP Ah... Something of them must remain, probably as old songs and poetry, then. The two accemnts sounded to my ears, Scots and Irish. The only other language I am aware of that still exists in lingering traces is Cornish.

My sister-in-law is a Scot, and told me Gaelic was never a universal Scottish language either, but that of the Northerly part of of the country.

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