The Decline Of The Irish Language

The Decline on the Irish Language. Fifty years ago today, 8th January, Eamonn DeValera said he would quit as Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland to run for the Presidency - he served two terms ; from 1959 to 1973.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Ireland
• Irish
• Gaelige

[freeman8128]

The old language is not a barrier to modern progress: in 1948 the newborn state of Israel adopted the long dead Hebrew language as its official language. Since then Hebrew has blossomed, become a modern living language & Israel one of the most scientifically advanced, modern countries in the world

- The same could happen in Ireland & Wales.

[UISTMAN59]

@freeman8128 I agree wholeheartedly that the Irish language is not a barrier to modern progress. The recovery of Hebrew from the brink of extinction is noteworthy but I wouldn't neccessarily hold up Israel as a shining example of being the best countries in the world.

[spacemonkey103]

We are still taught Irish to pass the Leaving Cert Exam. This is an extremely outdated way for testing languages especially. All it does is force teachers to force memorised answers down your throat before you even learn how to speak the language half-fluently. What a Joke! This is NOT how they learn languages in most European countries (hink how well some countries speak English) . The debate on cumpulsory Irish for the LC is a FALSE DEBATE - as we urgently need to reform the LC system.

[RMCrowley]

the New World Order wants to destroy such a beautiful language. If the language does not allow you to express certain things then you just plain can't get it across.

[AlexderFranke]

Náire ar na tuismitheoirí Éireannacha nár fhoghlaim an Ghaeilge nár mhúin agus nach múineann í dona bpáistí!

We should all keep our indigenous languages and teach our children those languages which are needed.

[Londubh1]

Is breágh liom an Ghaedhilge.

[UISTMAN59]

@breezeman199 Talking of "a needless and sudden turn toward nastiness" I see that well displayed in your channel comment on the Jews. "Obtuse and defensive" are more characteristic of monoglot Anglo-Saxons than of any Irish people I have known and I doubt very much if you ever mingled with "intelligent, mature and confident people" and I'm not Irish. Good to know I riled you good and proper though.

[breezeman199]

@UISTMAN59 Since you are being obtuse and defensive I don't think I'll bother to reply. These are characteristics I have noticed among Irish people, a needless and sudden turn toward nastiness. Intelligent, mature and confident people debate and discuss issues reasonably and do not engage in projectionism and pettiness.

[UISTMAN59]

@breezeman199 If all you want is a unilingual state then why shouldn't all Canadians speak French?

[breezeman199]

@UISTMAN59 My grammatical errors aside, it seems to me Ireland would be better off as a unilingual English speaking place. This is my view as a disinterested observer, that's all. I am not Irish or British. Don't confuse an individual learning another language (including sign) on his own, with state-sponsored and funded bilingualism. Believe me Canada would be a million times better off in every possible way if it had only ONE language and not two.

[Lousypenguin]

@UISTMAN59 And no French, German, Spanish doesn't need to be changed because 1. More people find them easier to learn 2. The curriculum is easier to understand and more fun to learn 3. The Exam isn't as hard as the Irish one so getting an 'A' in honours isn't that difficult.

I speak better French than I do Irish, my sister speaks Italian, My friends speak German better etc etc... And in Irelands changing demographics It's of more benefit to know a European language than irish anyway.

[Lousypenguin]

@UISTMAN59 It's a dead language because not enough people speak it (Less than 1%) the whole teaching aspect of it has to be changed to help revive it, understand? They should also abolish the fact that Irish is compulsary for Irish Students, that way the kids learning it want to not because they have to. The only people who have a decent standard of Irish are those who go to gaelscoils and thats because they conduct every lesson with it not the normal 40 min classes everyone else gets.

[freeman8128]

@UISTMAN59 Israel is very small country surrounded by hostile neighbours & having to spend a major part of its resources on defence. Nevertheless in 63 years it has managed to transform a backward province into a leader of scientific & technological research & excellence especially in cybernetics & bioscience.

The Hebrew language was 63 years ago a dead language known only to scholars; today it is the common language of everyday life.