Mostly whimsy and drivel of no consequence. And CHEESE.
Another riveting Fact of the Day:
Shelta is an esoteric jargon based on Irish and Gaelic, and it is still spoken by tinkers and vagrants in some parts of Ireland and England.
‘Kay. I haven’t any problem with the idea of an “esoteric jargon” existing. Dialects and sub-dialects are used all around the World. Your garden-variety “esoteric jargon is not a surprise.
This is the part about which I am dubious – there are still tinkers? Vagrants persist, yes – despite the old-fashioned description. But TINKERS?
Tinkers used to travel about the countryside selling and repairing pots, pans, utensils and farming tools. It seems the whole Home Depot concept (or even the neighborhood hardware store) would render the “tinker” concept obsolete. Yes, we use the WORD as such:
verb [ intrans. ] attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or desultory way, often to no useful effect : he spent hours tinkering with the car.
[ trans. ] archaic attempt to mend (something) in such a way.
But some wee wizened (they just have to be wizened, I don’t know WHY) tradesperson carrying wares and tools with which to repair a customer’s – uhm, metal things- in a cart or in baskets or bags? Would there be a donkey, ass or other beast of burden involved?
Okay, okay – several sources assert that a “tinker” is a pejorative term for “Irish Traveller” (not unlike “Gypsies” – another derogatory term used to describe the Roma people and other ethnic nomadic peoples of the world – a phrase sometimes mistakenly attributed to Irish Travellers), an itinerant people who still travel throughout Ireland, Great Britain and even the United States. Evidently they refer to themselves as “the Pavee.”
Upon further contemplation I realize that Johnny Depp portrayed a “Traveller” in Chocolat, which makes the concept VERY appealing. Nevertheless, he fixed doors and a boat and was very pleasing to the EYE. I still maintain that the whole pot, pan, utensil-fixing persona is extinct.
terry
March 26th, 2007 at 10:33 am
As a matter of fact, as recently as 3 years ago in cosmopolitan Montreal, an old man was still driving his battered old truck up and down the back alleys of the city, ringing a bell to announce his services, which were primarily sharpening knives and scissors.
Not a tinker in the real sense, but a very old-world sight to see.
Kate
March 26th, 2007 at 10:44 am
OOOhhh – so you’ve met a “traveller.” He may very well have been an IRISH traveller since they say that – what is it – forty percent of Québécois (whatever the plural is – you’ll have to help me Frenchy McFrench) have Irish ancestry.
Pam
March 28th, 2007 at 8:41 am
French McFrench! Ha ha ha heehee! That makes me Germy McGerm.
PPK
Pam
March 28th, 2007 at 8:41 am
French McFrench! Ha ha ha heehee! That makes me Germy McGerm.
PPK
Pam
March 28th, 2007 at 8:44 am
It’s much funnier if you say it twice. 🙂
Kate
March 28th, 2007 at 8:49 am
You know, it is. Otherwise, I’d edit one one of those for you…
Pam
March 29th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Curses.