Celtic roots of both the Falklands and Malvinas names?
The Irish Times has published a very interesting piece from Tomaí Ó Conghaile following on the fallout from the World Cup, who argues that both the English and Spanish versions of the Falkland-Malvinas Islands names have their roots in Celtic languages.
The origins of the Falklands and Malvinas names reveal a fascinating connection to Celtic languages. The English name, Falklands, can be traced back to Anthony Cary, Viscount Falkland, who financed an expedition to the islands in 1690. The word "Falkland" is believed to refer to the small town of Falkland in Fife, Scotland, where Cary's family originated.
Another possibility is that the name derives from Gaelic, with "falach" meaning "hidden" or "falc" meaning "to wash" or "heavy rain," both of which could describe the damp conditions of the islands. In Spanish, the name Las Malvinas comes from French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville, who named the islands "Iles Malouines" in 1764.
This title derived from the Breton port of Saint-Malo, from which Bougainville's crew set sail. The term "Malouines" likely means "people from Saint-Malo" or "beautiful hostage" in Old Breton. While these Celtic language origins may not influence modern geopolitics, they illustrate how language and labels can evolve over time.
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Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Celtic roots of both the Falklands and Malvinas names? en.mercopress.com
