jody@inuxd.UUCP (JoLinda Ross) (03/06/86)
I am planning to go to England this summer, and I hope to
have some time to spend in Ireland. After talking to a friend
of my, I began to wonder if I should do some studying first.
She said that the offical language of Ireland is Gaelic & English,
with the English to be phased out in time. So I was wondering
if I should learn some Gaelic. I realize I can not learn the
language in so short a time, but maybe a few words.
I plan to study the history of the land, but I don't know if
learning some Gaelic is proper.
I would appreciate any help in this area.
Thank you
jodyrespess@ut-ngp.UUCP (03/07/86)
Sure and wouldn't it be nice to have a bit of the Gaelic on you when you go to Ireland? But don't feel like you have know even any at all, at all. The people who would most likely to carry on conversations in Gaelic are either quite sophisticated (they went out of their way to learn the lan- guage) or quite unsophisticated (they couldn't help learning it, being peasants and all). So unless you go out of your way and cultivate an ac- quaintance with some of these people, you'll get along just fine in Eng- lish. That business about Gaelic being the official language may still be practically maintained in matters like currency, stamps, and road signs, but there's no chance of Gaelic becoming lingua franca among even a sizeable minority of the Irish. All of the above is not meant to denigrate Irish (which is what the Irish call their Gaelic - at least that's the English for what they call it). At times I think it would be great gas to live in Dingle with a native speaker and learn Irish because I had to. The trouble with trying to learn it before you go there is that you'd have to pick a dialect to learn from four quite distinct ones. And getting the right pronunciation is im- possible from a book. On the other hand, with a bit of book-learning, you could read Flann O'Brien or Seamus Mac Grianna, which would make the ef- fort worthwhile. So ... pick up as much as you're inclined to, but don't feel like you'll need it to get along. (Of course, when you're whizzing down the road try- ing to find Galway and all the road signs are trying to direct you to some place called Gaillimh ...) John Respess respess@ngp.UTEXAS.EDU
bill@milford.UUCP (bill) (03/10/86)
> > So ... pick up as much as you're inclined to, but don't feel like you'll > need it to get along. (Of course, when you're whizzing down the road try- > ing to find Galway and all the road signs are trying to direct you to > some place called Gaillimh ...) > > John Respess > respess@ngp.UTEXAS.EDU And another surprise to those too poor to rent autos: the buses all have their destinations in Gaelic! Best to photocopy a list of the Gaelic names for major towns with English equivalents before you go.
joe@stc.co.uk (03/10/86)
In reply to jody@inuxd.UUCP, respess@ut-ngp.UUCP
The Irish Language ( Gaeilge ) IS alive and well and spoken by a small
but vocal minority of the people of Ireland ( in all 32 Counties ! )
and not just by the "peasants" and "sophisticates" alluded to by John
Respess. It is the native tongue of many in the West ( principally
Galway ), South ( Cork & Kerry ) and North ( Donegal ) and most of
the population have at least a smattering of the language.
The supression of the language before the foundation of the "Free State"
has been somewhat reversed by positive efforts on behalf of the country's
government eg.
o Irish is the country's "first language" with all official documents,
signposts etc. being produced in both languages. It is however
an unfortunate reflection on the country's history that most
official meetings of legal and governmental bodies are held in
English.
o It is a compulsary curriculum subject in most schools in the
Republic of Ireland.
o Native speakers have their own radio station ( Radio na nGaeltachta )
and programmes on the national television & radio network, RTE
( Radio Telefis Eireann ).
o The country's Industrial Development Authority encourages investment
in these Gaeltacht areas.
etc.
Learning some of the language before comming to the Ireland is by no means
essential, but it is useful for a complete appreciation of our culture.
We look forward to seeing you - Cead Mile Failte !!
Seosamh Mac Cuinneagain.
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