# Native British languages

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/native-british-languages/259733>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 13, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/native-british-languages/259733 "2004-08-13T19:29:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/native-british-languages/259733/21 "2004-08-16T03:22:39Z")

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> [@Futile Gesture](#):
>
> Also worth pointing out that Scots Gaelic is pronounced “Gallic”, and Irish Gaelic is pronounced “Gaylic”. (Unless you are speaking _in_ Gaelic, in which case it’s pronounced “Gaylic” in both languages. Go figure.)

[david letterman’s top 10 list]

**TOP 10 THINGS OVERHEARD AT THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE**

…

1. I saw Ellen Degeneres and Anne Heche practicing their Gaelic.

[/david letterman’s top 10 list]

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**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/native-british-languages/259733/22 "2004-08-16T11:50:59Z")

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> [@hibernicus](#):
>
> “Gallic” is not a useful term for the Scottish language, since its primary meaning in English is “relating to France/Gaul”.

Nevertheless, this is how its pronounced. I’ve rarely heard anyone use the word “Gallic” in relation to France, (it’s somewhat archaic, isn’t it?), but hear it all the time to describe the language used in parts of Scotland. So I wouldn’t agree it was its primary meaning.

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