Breton?

Yeah, when you include the country name in the quote (brezhoneg) it makes it too easy.

So where do stamps with "Shqiperia" on them come from?

I am not sure but Latvian for Patrick´s example gets my vote, too. I base this on "latvieðu".

Spygirl, I think there used to be more than two dialects of Karelian. Just like there are many dialects of Finnish. Not any more. Due to Russian language politics it is an endangered language.

Karelian spoken in Finland is not Karelian, it is jut one of Finnish dialects. Totally comprehensible for a Finnish speaker, while Karelian language itself is not.

Agreed. It is Latvian.

I should say, agreed also that St. Cirq's example is Breton.

"So where do stamps with "Shqiperia" on them come from?"

From Albania. There were quite a few articles on Albania just last fall. Seems like everybody who wanted something "new" ran over there.

Yes, my last was Latvian - I found hanl's bit of Maltese on an EU webpage, so I just went for the Latvian translation of the same page - but maybe the copy and paste didn't bring over the right diacritics.

Now, shall I bother with Slovak, Slovenian..

No, here's one which is not in the EU (and it's not Icelandic):

Tað hevði ærligari mótvegis veljarunum at tað bara vóru eini fýra fimm valevni á hvørjum lista til fólkatingsvalið, heldur løgmaður

Patrick-you've got me addicted to this now! Okay, Faroe Islands?

oops, so that would be-Danish?

To answer my own question, it would be Danish, for some of the people, but an Icelandic dialect for others, i.e., Faroese.

Yes, mine was Breton.

Gardyloo, I really didn't think that many people would know the word "brezhoneg" or relate it to Breton. I'm impressed you knew!

I guessed Breton too, aren't some posters rude?

Sorry, not trying to be rude.

In the '70s there was a spate of Breton folk singers trying to put together a pan-Celtic music scene, foremost of which was an incredibly talented guy named Alan Stivell. He along with a marvelous guitarist named Dan ar Bras did a number of albums supporting not only their music but their dedication to self-governance for Britanny (which of course picked up a lot of support in Scotland and Wales as well.) "Brezhoneg Raok" was one of their big hits and left a lot of people in the Celtic fringe very familiar with the Breton name for their country. Find some of Stivell's music if you can - it's pretty wonderful.

End of history detour - sorry for any rudeness of perceived condescension - none intended.

That was NOT directed at you.!!!

Um.....who's rude or condescending? I was impressed that Gardyloo got the reference, and now I understand why.

Since the 1970s Breton music has been revived and has become popular even outside the region. Alan Stivell revived the Celtic harp tradition, and folk rock groups such as ''Tri Yann'', ''Sonerien Du'' (the "black musicians") and others paved the way for younger groups which now offer a range of Celtic-influenced rock, rap and dance music

Ah, but how many of you have MET Stivell? (she asked smugly)

Those of you that have been following this thread with interest might like to get hold of a copy of <i> Spoken here: Travels among threatened languages </i> by Mark Abley.
The author travels to different communities around the world, whose languages are in their last throes. It's not a scholarly linguistic study, nor is it a travel book as such, but somewhere in between the two. I'm halfway through the book and am finding it fascinating.

Ok here's one for you
what does-

'Cwtch' mean...anyone know?

Muck

Hmmm... could it possibly be, I wonder...

A much loved and much used local word having a number of uses:
(a) The coal cwtch, or the cwtch under the stairs/cwtch dan star - a storage place: derived from the Welsh 'cwt'.
(b) To keep concealed; &quot;Keep that cwtched by there now - don't want anybody to see it... &quot;
(c) Lie down, as in the order to a dog - &quot;Go (and find your) cwtch!&quot;
(d) To be fondled and snuggled up in an especially loving way &quot;Cwtch up to your mam now&quot;. A child nursed &quot;Welsh fashion is well and truly being 'cwtched'
(e) To warn off (now seemingly obsolete in local usage); &quot;Bar cwtch, bar cwtch, don't come to my cwtch&quot; A warning issued by children to others when out blackberry picking.