Meaning of "Béarla"

stephanus · 14-09-2010 10:57am #1

I know it is the word for the English language. But what is it derived from? All the other denominations for languages are derived from the people or country connected with them (well, most of the times at least). But Béarla puzzles me. I cannot make any connection to any region or any people or any event.

Does anyone know?

Krusader · 14-09-2010 11:17am

Sacs-Béarla is the long version

I heard Béarla means or use to mean jibberish

who the fug · 14-09-2010 11:18am

Crosáidí wrote: »

Sacs-Béarla

What is the literal translation of this

Micilin Muc · 14-09-2010 11:22am

The meaning of Béarla is speech according to Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla Uí Dhónaill.

Dineen gives the following terms: Béarla Chríost (Latin), Béarla Eadarscartha (the parted language/an old dialect of Irish).

Krusader · 14-09-2010 11:23am

Sacs = Saxon
Sasanach = Saxon (person)

who the fug · 14-09-2010 11:28am

Thanks for that

Did they have a work for the Normans?

Krusader · 14-09-2010 3:29pm

na normannaigh - the normans

Remember the normans didnt speak English or anglo-saxon they spoke French, there are a few words in Gaeilge with French roots like,

gasúr - child/boy (garcon)
gasún - boy (garcon)
seomra - room (chambre)

who the fug · 15-09-2010 8:37am

Crosáidí wrote: »

na normannaigh - the normans

Remember the normans didnt speak English or anglo-saxon they spoke French, there are a few words in Gaeilge with French roots like,

Appreciate they spoke French, but did the Irish identify them as a separate race of people to the native English

Re Irish words with French roots

Does on Reynard for a fox date back to this time ?

Enkidu · 15-09-2010 9:07am

who the fug wrote: »

Appreciate they spoke French, but did the Irish identify them as a separate race of people to the native English

Yeah they did. The Irish had known the Anglo-Saxons for some time at that point (over four centuries). Where as the Normans were a new arrival to the British Isles. Also the Irish at the time had a tendency to classify people by their language so the Normans with their French stood out.

stephanus · 15-09-2010 11:51am

Interesting! My linguistic world is whole again.

I simply could not make Béarla fit anywhere. No i can.
Thanks a lot and also for the background information.

mr chips · 17-09-2010 11:02am

As Crosáidí says, it comes from an old word meaning gibberish.* As far as I know the root word was "Geurla".

*For some childish reason, this pleases me.

stephanus · 17-09-2010 11:35am

Reminds me of the Greek "barbaros" also meaning stammering or gibberish.

Meaning of "Béarla"

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