European Journal | Ireland: Will the Irish Language Survive?

[MrCeltic54]

@feetsam English people destroyed or language so maybe you should learn our rich history full of the English oppression

[TheBeautyFashion1]

its TG ceathair

[EvanC0912]

it is actually an irony, while the other countries are promoting their own (native) languages outside of theirs, ireland is struggling on promoting its own native language to its own inhabitants (which is of course of the irish decent). why on earth do these people hesitate to speak their OWN language?

[EvanC0912]

species extinct and some new ones emerge, but languages don't. some of them extinct but no new natural language is born very quickly.

[MrIrishBilly]

Kevin Myers is a Troll, a shit stirrer if you will.

The turd deserves an OBE it's a wonder he hasn't already got one

as he's plainly fecking english.

: )

Éirinn go Brách

.

[feetsam]

Irish is a pathetic, backward, senseless, infuriating, irrelevant, tedious, deceptive, foul, useless, fascist, mind-numbingly boring, retarded, greedy, chaotic, hated, hateful, nearly-dead and dying-quickly language. There is nothing good to say about it, even in English. I don’t even think it should be a subject in schools. Maybe kids should be taught a few words in primary school, but that’s about it.

[irishmaestro]

@feetsam Do you not realise how completely ridiculous it is to use words such as 'fascist', 'greedy' or 'chaotic' to describe a language? Any language is, really, an encapsulation of the history, culture and the very minds of the people amongst whom it developed. Would you really describe Irish people across the centuries as retarded, greedy, orderless fascists?

Perhaps you and Mr Myers ought to join forces in hatcheting at the diminishing languages of the world.

[mellar07]

"It's not culturally good"

Duh.

Culture = identity. I guess the english are just so used to erasing culture to further their imperialist agenda that they can look at the dying of an entire nation's identity due to colonization and just shrug their shoulders. And I mean this with love. English have been doing this for hundreds of years; I doubt they understand the devastation their colonization continues to wreak. They need to open their eyes. Sad for everyone involved.

[LightUpThePoison]

Yeah it's kinda sad. I'm trying to do the same with my language which is Khmu. Gaelic sounds way better than English. The English were pretty fucked up when they beat Welsh kids back in the old day for speaking Welsh.

[prtyirishgirl]

Is the pub at the end Tig Coili in Galway?

[DONAGHER2004]

fuck you Kevin Myers the irish language has a community of 100,000 speakers Irish is astonishingly among the 10% of world languages deemed safe from extinction in the foreseeable future. Irish qualifies as 'safe' under both the criteria identified by linguists specialising in language endangerment:

[musicman45805]

IDIOTS! HOW DARE THEY SUGGEST IT'S DYING! I am an American of Irish descent learning the language!!! I am going to return to Ireland and witness the language's return to the first spoken language of all Ireland. I will see to it or die trying. I have never been so detirmined to do anything in my life. HOW DARE THEY!?

[PaulieKeenan]

Would be nice if the presenter was told how to pronounce the words!

[jarsonist]

Asking Kevin Myers for an opinion on anything Irish is like asking Osama Bin Laden for an opinion on America. His raison d'etre is to despise anything native to Ireland and to promote everything British. It's nice to see Kevin being as contradictory as usual.

[StephenDeaner]

Kevin Myers is an ignorant idiot, to expect a country to simply stop funding its official first language, there are some people in Ireland who ONLY speak Irish! Language death is also not a natural thing as he calls it as unique way of thinking dies with each language. Also saying hardly anyone in Dublin speaks Irish is completely wrong. Irish might not be the first language of many people in Dublin, but Dublin is where Irish is growing most.

[eath54]

Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam... The brits have tried to destroy the Irish, promoting and using Irish language is a way of saying "Póg mo thóin!" back to the Brits

[robot4me]

My great grandmother and great grandfather on my mothers side of the family moved to america from ireland with the ability to speak the irish language . Now i'm sad to say no one in my family can speak gaelic.

[RyanPatrickOHara]

In America, because of the global economy, we are seeing many important programs, salaries and etc being cut.

Do you think with the new political shift in IRE, along with the economical climate, we'll see the government funding to preserve Irish language dry up? It's a big concern of mine, as I'd love to see the language thrive.

[GAELMIC]

Myers is English, living in Ireland and likes to let people into thinking he is somehow Irish - he isn't. His views are that of a colonist living in his host country commenting without adopting Irish ways and Irish culture.

[Drezero13]

i abhor other nationalities and mine included losing there uniqueness, its native language and culture. i never like hear that we should all just adopt another language example english and forget your own. what make you unique and represents your culture is your language.

[MelodyVisionIreland]

irish forever

[Scealic93]

Gan a bheith ar an nGaeilge, muintir na hÉireann ar bith aitheantais náisiúnta.

[sorin1918]

I will never understand those people in Dublin saying that gaelic is not for them! If the natives say their own heritage,language and culture is not for them what's the point of having an independent country?

[seonidh]

@sorin1918 its similar situation with scottish gaelic where people dont want to learn it others do.

[AmilCouto]

Irish language it´s not dying, it´s being murdered by people like this periodist

[RainbowHanryu]

Most people think that most of the native American laguages have died, but they still speak it in the reservations. To keep the languages alive you need to make it so it can get you somewhere.

[BATTERIESc]

This is supposed to be a european journal but the woman speaking is an americanised trash talking idiot , thats the problem.

[RosserD18]

But sure he's English.. Of course he would have that opinion..? But in fairness like it is an awful waste of money. Tá brón orm é a rá mar is aoibhinn liom an Ghaeilge, labhraím é beagán líofa agus tá trí bliana fagtha ar scoil agam. Ach is fuath liom an t-ábhar Gaeilge..

[GaeilgeSpraoi]

And in English, Kevin Myers is a fool. He isn't an Irish person and anti-Irish. I speak Irish and I don't think that it's dead. I live in Dublin too! Google Translate, Rosetta Stone and Youtube help to promote Irish and I have a dictionary on my smart phone.

[123RUTH123]

@GaeilgeSpraoi It sucks right now that I have to ask this question in English but how did you learn Irish, brought up speaking it? went to a gaelscoil? paid attention in school, or taught yourself? I've asked a lot of people as I REALLY want to learn, I know the best way is the gaeltacht but I haven't the money (or time) to go there.

[GaeilgeSpraoi]

@123RUTH123 Oh its really a mixture of things. I study French and Spanish in college and my interest in languages extended to Irish. I teach myself and go to Irish speaking things. I'm naturally good at languages tbh níl aon fadhb. Tá Gaeilge ionach suimúil. X

[123RUTH123]

@GaeilgeSpraoi I do Spanish and Italian in college and have always wanted to know Irish, I was able to teach myself Spanish but there were a lot more resources for me to do so. .. . . Any books or anything you could suggest?

[GaeilgeSpraoi]

@123RUTH123 yeah true that! Limited resources is perhaps the worst thing about learning a less spoken language like I wanted to learn Finnish before... hmm tell ya what ill sent u a mail tomorrow ok? Oíche mhaith ;-):-P

[123RUTH123]

@GaeilgeSpraoi Legend :) Oíche mhaith yourself ha

[thoban1724]

@123RUTH123 i´m teaching myself spanish now and hope to be fluent someday. Do you have any suggestions to help me get to this point? I´d appreciate any advice.

[GaeilgeSpraoi]

Is amadach é Kevin Myers. Ní Éireannach é mar frith-Éireannach. Tá Gaeilge agam agus ní cheap mé go bhfuil sé marbh. Tá mé i mo chónaí i mBaile Átha Cliath fosta! Cuideann Google Translate, Rosetta Stone is YouTube le Gaeilge a chuire chun cinn agus tá an fóclóir agam i mo fón póca cinte (Android).

[dazpatreg]

Seo é an Kevin Myers céine a deir 'Africa has given us nothing but AIDS, we should cease giving them money'. Well Caoimhín, ní bheidh tusa ariamh i mo chúntasóir ar aon nós, tá brón orm!

[xXTotalDIsCordXx]

as long as Ireland is around so is gaelic,Tir Gan Teanga Tir gan Anam

[screamforblood728]

fuckin lobsterback. it's because of his people my family isn't in the home country

[homer091]

they need to change the way its taught in schools. instead of teaching you how to write stupid fuckin letters they should be teaching you how to speak it.

[knockcrogherymurray]

This guy was one of my teachers when i was

in the gaeltacht!

[seonidh]

@knockcrogherymurray

Tá sé an áit a Dhún na nGall nó Ciarraí?

[paulgallagher13]

I'm sorry guys but Irish should not be forced down people's throats. It's not natural and its not healthy. The best solution is to allow people to choose if they wish to learn Irish in school, with the option of learning French or German perhaps. I went to an Irish speaking school and it was a complete waste of my time, I simply had no interest in learning a laguage that is not spoken anywhere.

[Kobaganda]

My God.. Kevin Myers = Judas.

[paulgallagher13]

I don't always agree with Kevin Myers but I like the fact he makes people think critically about Ireland. He's not anti-irish, he's just honest.

[RobynOrlaBrowne95]

@paulgallagher13 no , he's just a prick.

end of.

[michealomainin]

Tá gráin agam le kevin myers!! Asal!!!

[hanmaenen]

The Irish people do not need to listen to renegade Irishmen, also called West Brits like Kevin Myers. I have read many of his anti-Irish and pro-Loyalist columns. I bet that if ever the Union Jack should be hoisted again on the GPO in Dublin he would weep with joy! I hope that Irish will regain a lot of ground in Ireland, also in the large cities and that we will soon see a real bilingual Ireland.

[derryladutj]

I would love to learn Irish, I wish my parents sent me to an Irish school when I was younger, Be proud to be Irish!

[jofaol]

Kevin Myers is a jealous wanker

[corsellus]

well he's dead right on this issue. we spend so much time, money and effort on a dying language that not everyone even wants. and force people to learn it when they could be doing something enjoyable or constructive with their time. and what is there to show for it? not one thing.

[603619]

For this language to suvive they need to see it like a buiness or business goal. They need to sell it, make it fashionable. Just look at the eglish, french and germans

[Frankieireland]

kevin myers is not irish and does not represent the irish people in any shape or form. Let me tell you that I grew up with english speaking parents and can speak irish. the language is absolutely blooming. this report should have gone to the real ireland, beyond the pale. irish is thriving in conamara like this video showed. regions that haven't spoken it for 100 years are again trying to reach bilingualism. gaeilge abú go deo.

[corsellus]

i spend 3 months a year in connemara and ive never heard an irish conversation there. thats mostly because its only a small portion of connemara that has the language. its really only a handful of villages in which its spoken at all, all of which are in gaeltachts. kevin myers couldnt be more right. the language offers absolutely nothing and costs a lot of time and money. its ridiculous that students are forced to learn it.

[boxxer55]

Learning Irish as an American living in Chicago. I am very dedicated to the language. There are many that are learning here and many more that don't know how to get started. I am perplexed by the lack of enthusiasm for the language In Ireland but am also encouraged by the reported progress of Irish language primary schools. I wish there were better means to connect with other speakers....

[Frankieireland]

@boxxer55 i can't tell you how much i love hearing people such as yourself learning our language. i'm really grateful and you should give yourself a real pat on the back. stick with it, when you get to visit ireland it will be worth it. maithiú.

[Alex7BR]

Vive le gaélique irlandais!

Long live to irish!

Brav eo ar Gouezeleg!

I hope this beautiful celtic language does not dissapear, as neither do the other 5 celtic languages... Irish is a beautiful language, but it's up to the irish people to keep it alive.

LONG LIVE TO IRISH GAELIC!

[LanguageLuo]

I am in my fourth year of Brezhoneg, Language of the people of Brittany. I can now SPEAK, write, translate and read books written in Brezhoneg. My testimony is that a Language cannot disappear if its people want to continue existing on planet Earth. Realise that when a Language disappears it is its people who cease to exist on planet Earth. Therefore, an Irish who wants his/her Language to disappear condemns his own people, the Irish to extinction. He spits on both homeland and the ANCESTORS.

[shamrockgirl804]

I don't believe the language is dying. I'm from Texas and I've been learning the language for 2 years now, and prefer to speak and learn it more than Spanish. It is a hard language to learn but it is very unique! Most people have never heard of Ireland having their own langauge. I think that preserving Irish is the best thing to do! And it's should start by teaching the younger generation!

[japlibertad]

I am so stunned at how the Irish don't appreciate their own language!! shame on you irish people!! what a pity!

[xiangxianghuahuo]

Too many languages die. It's a shame. English should be outlawed. I mean, the English killed the language by outlawing it, right? I figure that's the only way it can be brought back. I'm learning Irish right now, and it's difficult, but I'm not going to give up on it. If anyone on here speaks Irish and is willing to tutor me, please send me a message. Thanks.

[irishfella1987]

Kevin Myers you West Brit!! THE LANGUAGE IS GROWING SO MUCH< We'll show him. Gaeilge abú

[AnOicheGhealai]

@irishfella1987, Gaeilge abú go deo! =]

[Eoind]

Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam!

[hardlinemonarchist]

I hope the language does not die.

[antoconno]

I wonder did that Muppet Myers write about the funding being pulled from the Protestant Schools recently! I bet he did!

Cád é an Gaeilge don 'Tool'??

[antoconno]

Tá an-ghrá agam don teanga Gaeilge. Náire ar Kevin Myers! An ámadán ar fad!

Is fearr Gaeilge briste ná béarl cliste!

[PG90210]

Kevin Myers is a grade A west Brit!!he knows nothing of the language,of its strengths or the enthusiasm by which people go about promoting the language!!Gaeilge most certainly is'nt dead,and wont ever be with people who are determined to keep it alive,its worth every penny of government spending

TÍR GAN TEANGA TÍR GAN ANAM

[watershipdown2008]

God Bless Kevin Myers! Sense at last!

[AtticusStount]

Am I the only one that really wanted to teleport himself to that traditional Irish pub?

[InvulnerablePig]

Ah, Kevin Meyers, the west Brit.

[Owly95]

Is aoibhlinn liom Gaeilge. Ta se go hiontach.

[MagicTellaVision]

Today the Born Again Pagan Celts promote Gaelic within the modern Druid community's in America and within the EU which is the Unification of ancient Gaul.

[redblastanimator]

i WISH IRISH LANGUAGE WOULD GO!!!!!!im 12 and in school irish is sooooo boring and hard i wish that the guy who made the irish language was raped and torchered!!1

[tanfun1]

it says ur 25 on your profile.. why lie? if you were brought up with it as your 1st language or if u put some effort into it then you might actually enjoy it.. when your older you'll wish that you had learnt it.

[irishcol]

when you learn hastory you will understand, its funny how you used words like raped and torchered.....tá tú an-óg

[lilsteller]

If Ireland wants to save the language it has to make sure the small areas that still speak Irish continue to speak it. Schools, local tv, radio, papers, signs, politics have to be conducted in Irish.

French immersions programs in Canada has saved the French language in Canada, while immersions programs have slowed the decline of the French language in Louisiana. Hebrew was an almost extinct language now it's spoken by millions in Israel.

Languages can be saved.

[lilsteller]

The guy in the red is an idiot. I rather have 100,000 Irish speakers left speaking the Irish language, then have none.

I don't go to Ireland to see non-Irish culture, people, lanuages. The language is part of the Irish culture, the same way Italian is part of Italian culture.

[Oody61]

t'be sure t'be sure

[ralf5387]

I hope Irish survives....it's such a beautiful language. Irish Americans should invest in it too.

[SekyinB]

I feel bad about the decline of the Irish language. I think the Irish government haven't done enough or correctly to save the language. By the time Ireland earned independence there were still 500,000 native speakers. But now...probably less than 50,000.

Jews revived Hebrew as their native language after it being dead for almost 2000 yrs! I was always wondering how Irish people can let their language decline in such a rate.

[tanfun1]

kevin meyers is from england. why would he care about the irish language. "species bacome extinct" hes a fool. how is putting money into the irish language a waste!!! some people are proud of being able to speak as gaeilge. just coz hes from the land that tried to stop us talkin it and failed, no need to be like tht kevin!!

[Shufei]

It's in the English interest to force down other languages. It makes for dependent colonized minds in other nations. The fear of the polyglot is an international phenomenon, common around the Anglosphere.

The reduction in linguistic diversity should concern us all. By losing Gaeilge, the Irish lose the ability to relate to themselves and others with a multilingual society, making it all the harder to learn others' languages.

[kipps2]

Some researchers believe the world will end up with just 9 world languages by the end of the century - German, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Spanish, French, Hindustani, English and Mandarin Chinese.

That's not to say plenty of other languages won't be spoken; but it does mean more and more languages are likely to need a bit of assistance.

[franzd03]

How did German fit in to that category?? Just wondering...

[luna4ever36]

@kipps2 I hope people would keep speaking Irish, its a beautiful language, and its cool to be billingual, especially if you have irish blood.

Lol, there's no language called Hindustani, its hindi, but yeah, the brits tried to shove english down India but its a huge country so, unlike Ireland, it survived.

[Trevie3]

@luna4ever36 Hindustani used to exist as a language, but it's split up into Hindi and Urdu, which are sometimes still mutually intelligible.

[luna4ever36]

@Trevie3 oh that's cool

[kipps2]

Interesting stuff.

I wonder if they were speaking Irish in that pub (4m30sec), I couldn't really hear.

[Sinopa9]

Sadly, I don't think the Irish language will live on for much longer. it will die out along with gaelic, the scandinavian languages, baltic languages and so on. English and Arabic seem to be the languages of the future..

Pieces of culture around the world die every day.

It's sad, but inevitable.

[KTRoseAmongThorns]

A lady from Ireland told me that jobs are asking for spanish speaking positions! WTF! Soooo I think English and spanish (mexican spanish) will take over. I wish people would stop making other people learn laqnguages that benefit another culture! Not naming a specific one but ~ehehm~ but it's obvious

[kealyc]

I'm English, from an Irish family, and I cannot agree with the Englishman interviewed who says it's wrong to promote the Irish language. What would France be without its language ? What would Finland be without Finnish ? They would lose their identity.

[bacabu30]

Kevin Myers is just a negative, obnoxious loudmouth who have no talent and is an idiot. Don't pay any attention to him.

I've yet to have heard him say anything positive about anything. He's a journalist but many of his articles are racist, homophobic and sometimes even unintelligible.

[soloasdubh]

nár chuala an láithreoir sin dhath ar bith fá dtaobh de coincheap na "foghraíochta" riamh? cad is ciall le YouDaras? dé an t-ainm atá art an achtoir úd in athuair? uafásach, ach greanmhar ar dhóigh ínnteacht.

[Michele640]

Yes, I think the Irish language will definitely survive, because it's actually a language and it's actually spoken, although native speakers don't make up more than 3% of the Irish population.

[Utuber709]

that actor has the accent but forgot a personality

[Ancupola]

There seems to be more Polish and Urdu speakers in Ireland rather than the native language.

[jmacguitar]

Irish is an unbelievably rich legacy/ heritage... concern about loan words is way overdone... Irish has all it all...writing and song and poetry and story and humor and wit : 'gach rud' ... if you can't get on with moving it forward - just don't go negative - it was/is and still remains many a person's bridge to a unique past and present + future identity (I hope...) I heard stories I went to Eire, do that for what? Hey drop the colonial mentality, get off the reservation live your life

[KTRoseAmongThorns]

What I'd give to learn Gaelic but I heard it's hard to learn. sad about irish language going extinct like the Cajun French. not many no it and thanks to my grandmother who refused to teach her children who couldn't teach theirs so leaves a future generation w/out a coulture to remember.

Soon everyone will have to speak spanish! I've already bee told to and some people here are losing jobs because they don't or do not want to learn spanish. I rather die than someone telling me how 2 speak!

[curiniul]

KTRose'What I'd give' - give a few hundred euro and a few years, that's the way you give it life... learn it

[KTRoseAmongThorns]

but what can you buy that would teach? Rosetta Stone? Damnit I wish it wasn't expensive to learn a language. Just afraid not learning if it's a hard language. I failed french class twice... kinda different from Cajun French. Redneck french.... hahaha jk

[curiniul]

you did say you'd give anything : )

What can you buy,? books, cds, dvds, lessons

[DaireDee]

"Ni amhain go gcaithfidh Eire bheith saor, caithfidh si bheith Gealach. Ni amhain go gcaithfidh si bheith Gealach, caithfidh si bheith saor."

[lughlamh]

; ) Gaelach, is rud eile í an ghealach.

[lughlamh]

Cad é utility dar leatsa, agus an é sin an tomhas luacha?

Cur modern architecture I wikipedia agus ansin leigh ar postmodern architecture

[lughlamh]

Any chance the west brit and the east yank will become endangered species?

[riwnodennyk]

I believe Irish will be revived! Greetings from Ukraine! In our country situation with Ukrainian language is almost the same :(

[acehimself]

Lots of efforts should be make to protect languages. This natural selection guy who probably wishes the entire world was just English and Chinese has the wrong idea. That might be more convienient for business, but language is one of the most varied elements of humanity and one of the most interesting and to lose every small one would be a great shame. I agree with the guy below me about how it isn't really though for children to become bilingual with proper schooling.

[weversonman]

I really think it should be a priority to save the different languages of the world from going extinct. I mean if the system is put together right to support it, having children growing up learning three different languages fluently isn't difficult for them or causes them to be mediocre in each. In places like Belgium it's common for people to speak French, Flemish/Dutch, and English all fluently. In North America we are almost all unilingual and I think we should support language learning.

[TheLastAngryMan01]

Languages can be, and have been, revived. The Israelis successfully revived a language (Hebrew?). In Wales, Welsh is in a much more robust state than it was 20 years ago. Kevin Myers is part of a clique within the Irish media that despises anything remotely Irish-Ireland- the GAA, the Irish language and Irish nationalism being three. To improve the Irish language, more emphasis must be put on spoken Irish. We have a ridiculous situation whereby children speak very little Irish in primary.

[dimgwalltameiben]

CPENILLA - You criticise Kevin Myers, don't shoot the messenger! Nearly every Irishman I've met thinks Gaeilge is a pointless language and really resents being forced to learn it in school, leading to the pretty dire position the language is in now. You should dish the contempt on those who've created the situation, not someone who's merely commented on it!

[VampireBuddha]

Man, this narrator can't pronounce Irish words for shit.

I like in an area that's technically a Gealtacht, yet I never hear anyone actually speaking the language. I say let it go - Ireland has plenty of culture apart from the language.

[lughlamh]

Why do you care about her pronunciation, if you want Irish to die?

If you don't speak it and you think it should die, it's unlikely people will speak it around you. Do an image search for FarSideCownCar, this is the situation you may be in

[StupidObamacult]

during WWII the United states used a ancient language from one of it's native tribes they were called code talkers and the code was never broken by the Japanese you will need it when you fight back against the Jewish enemies of Ireland

[lughlamh]

The 'enemy' of the language is mass american drivel like friends and shakira

[dimgwalltameiben]

I visited Ireland from Wales last year and in 5 days travelling from Cork to Galway and round the coast back to Cork I didn't hear anyone speak a single word of Irish !!! The language is plastered all over roadsigns and apparently is taught in every school so what's your excuse?! Seems to me the Irish love to call themselves patriotic but don't actually do anything to back it up. God bless you Gaeilge enthusiasts, pity you are so few!

[charlessmyth]

Wales! That's like the pot calling the kettle black :-) If most recent reports about the Welsh language, etc., are anything to go by.

[jmacguitar]

Is maith an rud Gaelige beo -iontach maith...

You say: Let it die... but do you mean crush it ... let all speak a monoglot English, speak the same and think the same and be the same, but this dead language refuses to die ... all that needs to be done for those who wish is to teach children how to speak it and give them a social space to speak and work and be heard in their native tongue... in the public square and in the media...

[cosinbrother]

please view my celtic channels for all the celtic languages and see that its the young the next generation that are bringing it forward and are stronger today than only 10 years ago

[cpenilla81]

A real wanker he is that Kevin Myers, eh? Gaeilge Abu!

[cosinbrother]

yeah i agree! funny how its only the non speakers that think its a waste of time. "species die others emerge?" what bull! so ireland becomes britain, the irish become english? what did we fight for, hes so disrespectful. he shouldn't have his job.

[lughlamh]

Kevin myarse

[Ziuzia1992]

Revive Irish (Gaeilge), Revive Ireland.

[spoonfedheros]

sorry but im from a gaeltacht and every day i hear people speak it and i speak it myself all my friends speak it and speak it as their first language all the D4s in this video dont understand because to them its something that people do down the country and they think they are too posh for the irish language. the irish language is still alive and is the heart of some communities just because you dont find a practical aplication doesnt mean no one else does

[Barrano1]

Aontaim leat!!!!!!!!!

[charlessmyth]

The Irish language has not been a first language in Ireland for more than 150 years, at least. As of today, Irish is too polluted with English words to make it viable, apart from creating make-work jobs and for being able to access EU cultural development grants. Irish is of even less utility than Latin.

[lughlamh]

An bhfuil fhios agat an méid Francís atá i mBéarla?

"language, create, polluted, viable, apart, able, access cultural, development, utility" ó Francís gach aon acú

It's always people who don't use Irish in their daily lives that whinge about it being "polluted"!

[lughlamh]

Charles: I just looked at your page! Ha! I doubt you'd have much Irish! I said that something like 60% of the words in English derive (there's another one) from French. I saw this loyalist boot boy on a program on RTÉ saying how Irish just took English words like television, telephone and changed them... he thought it was a fine anglo-saxon word ignorant that it was borrowed in from Latin and Greek, this is fine for any language in Europe's neologisms, but if we do this it's not valid!

[charlessmyth]

The Loyalist boot boy is hardly a credible source of wisdom, and is somewhat undermined by the fact that his criticisms would apply equally well to UlsterScots. As you rightly point out, Greek and Latin are the foundation of many European languages. I'm still struggling with English and a degree of utility in German and French. Most language development comes out of Hollywood, nowadays :-)

[bacabu30]

Did you know that many English words come from Irish. Even the word car is derived from Irish. All languages in the modern world are faced with new vocab all the time, as new things are invented. Nothing new about that.

[curiniul]

Not from Irish as far as I know, but it is derrived from old celtic. There aren''t a massive amount of words in standard Br/Am English of Irish origin, though 'How the Irish invented slang' makes a case (not sure how convincing) for words like Jazz (teas), Phoney (fainne)

[bacabu30]

Yes, car is from old Celtic, the parent of Irish.

Apart from that, there are lots of words in English that are derived from the Irish language. Far more than has been previously thought by scholars.

Why wouldn't you find Cassidy's book "convincing"? There are many others publications on the subject too.

[curiniul]

What others had you in mind?

[curiniul]

Let me clarify that. It's an attractive hypothesis, I'm not sure how convincing the book is because I haven't got around to reading any peer reviews of it by linguists.

[curiniul]

feicim go bhfuil Gaeilge agat, níos fearr fós. Nílim líofa (tá an C2 agam ach ní chainteóir dúchasaigh mé) agus mar sin, cé go feicim go bhfuil cosúileacht idir na focla Béarla agus na focla i nGaeilge luaite ag Cassidy, tá roinnt maith acú nua dom sna dha theangacha

[charlessmyth]

Níl mé cinnte faoi sin :-)

[lughlamh]

Cad atá tú ag caint faoi mar sin, agus cad é an difríocht idir eathrú.

[charlessmyth]

That's as may be, but can it be argued that ethnocide via a virtuous hegemony is necessarily a bad thing, so long as people do not die of it. There is a great deal of wild talk and action via government policies to propagate the virtues of ethnicity and diversity, but who pays for it and on whose terms. Carol Thatcher and Nurse Caroline Petrie being two cases in point.

[lughlamh]

The conqueror always portrays themselves as virtuous - the white man's burden and variations thereof. Tell the people of Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, central America, South America, Vietnam, Indonesia about the "virtuous hegemonies" of colonial European powers and their protégé the US.

Please don't tell me it's to liberate/civilise etc the countries involved - the CIA and Mi5 trained and armed fundamentalist groups like the taliban. nearer to home try " What are we to believe about Omagh?

[lughlamh]

Divide and conquer, oldest trick in the book

[charlessmyth]

The CIA and MI5 can always offer to train anybody they choose to, but the chosen can always decline the opportunity. As for a 'virtuous hegemony', the US would be pretty close post the British Empire losing the plot. And if this was not so, the claimed malcontents would not be beating a path to the US and the EU in order to improve their circumstances.

[lughlamh]

The CIA trained the taliban, does that seem 'virtuous' to you?

Irish people also "beat a path" to England during the famine, we didn't go there for it's virtue...

[Michele640]

Please, don't tell lies, which anyway have absolutely nothing to do with the Irish language.

[lughlamh]

che dici?

[Michele640]

It's false that the CIA trained the Taliban, and this has absolutely nothing to do with the Irish language.

[lughlamh]

L'egemonia culturale è un concetto che descrive il dominio culturale di un gruppo o di una classe che «sia in grado di imporre ad altri gruppi, attraverso pratiche quotidiane e credenze condivise, i propri punti di vista fino alla loro interiorizzazione, creando i presupposti per un complesso sistema di controllo» - Gramsci