Gallo language

Gallo is a regional language of France, traditionally spoken in Eastern Brittany.

In contrast to Breton, the Celtic language which is traditionally spoken in the Western territory of the country, Gallo is a Romance language, one of the Oïl languages (closely related to Norman, Picard and Poitevin-Saintongeais among others).

One of the metro stations of the Breton capital, Rennes, has bilingual signage in French and Gallo, but generally the Gallo language is not as visibly high-profile as the Breton language, even in its traditional heartland of the Pays Gallo (which includes the two historical capitals of Rennes and Nantes).

Although a written literary tradition exists, Gallo is more noted for extemporised story-telling and theatrical presentations. Given Brittany?s rich musical heritage, it is also the case that some contemporary performers produce a range of music sung in Gallo.

The vocabulary of Gallo has been influenced by contact with Breton, but remains overwhelmingly Latinate.

Examples

English	Gallo
bee	avètt
chair	chaérr
cheese	fórmaij
exit	desort
to fall	cheir
goat	biq
house	ostèu
lip	lip
mouth	góll
number	limerot
pear	peirr
school	escoll
squirrel	chat-de-boéz
star	esteill
timetable	oryaer
to smoke	betunae
today	anoet
to whistle	sublae