The Irish language is to become the 21st official language of the EU in 2007. Good news for some, but probably not for all.
Who gains? I suppose the usual suspects, Irish language activists, translators and minority language enthusiasts.
Who looses? Not sure yet, but I’m not 100% sure about this…
Michele Neylon :: Pensieri
Technology, Marketing, Domains, Thoughts
Who gains? Thousands of children who speak Irish as their first language. They aren’t activists or enthusiasts, just kids – but they will be a little less likely to grow up feeling discriminated against because of their language.
Who gains? Hundred’s of thousands more who perhaps don’t speak Irish, but who have expressed their support for the language and who want to see it survive as a living spoken language.
Who would gain from denying Irish EU status?
The Irish nation, its citizens and all speakers of the language gain.
Nice to see that I’ve opened a “can of worms” with this 🙂
I can appreciate that Irish speakers gain from the recognition of the Irish language at EU level.
What bothers me about any more languages being added at EU level is the extra administrative overhead and possible delays in processes that extra languages entail.
Prior to the last expansion there were already issues with the translation of documents into all the official languages.
On a positive note it will surely provide more work for translators.
True… which is why I have always advocated the use of esperanto as the one and only official language of the EU. But, now they have gone down this path, we have as much a right as anyone else to have our language used at an official level in Europe.
-jp
Seamus
Esperanto never took off. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the reality.
I would be almost in favour of reverting to using French for diplomacy (I don’t approve of the dominance of the English language), but I guess I’m in a minority.
The only thing about Irish is a question of whose language is it? If you were fortunate enough to be brought up in an Irish speaking household you may be able to use it, but what about the rest of us?
Esperanto doesn’t need to take off. It’s just a question of what language to write the documents in. It has no cultural ties, etc. It’s perfect.
The Irish language is the language of all the people of Ireland. You don’t need to be brought up through Irish to use it. I use it every day with my friends; none of who used/use it in their homes.
-jp
Seamus
If you use it then you obviously learnt at some stage. Consider yourself fortunate.
Every person in Ireland learns Irish in school?
Seamus
Everybody is forced to attend the classes. That doesn’t mean that they actually learn anything.
My own experience was atrocious. I only found out when I was at university what a fada meant!
Well, i don’t want to comment on your particular situation, but, in general people who try will succeed.
-jp
Seamus
Considering I speak 4 other languages fluently I can assure you that it was not my linguistic capabilities that were at fault.
Michele
Excuse me if I join in…
Well unfortunatly Michele it sounds like you were let down … but that’s not the fault of the language, that is the fault of the education system! 90%+ of Irish kids learn Irish, and unfortnatly very few are ever thought the real value of the language.
Every language is valuable, a language doesn’t need 50 million speakers to be valuable, Irish is as valuable as any other language and in many ways it is more so to us because it forms part of our national identity.
Btw, school may have let you down, as it did me, but that doesn’t stop you re-learning the language 😉
I know two non-Irish people, with zero Irish links whatsoever, who have learned to speak Irish fluently because they just liked the language. And it only took them a couple of years. 🙂
Maca
Thanks for your comments.
One of my ex-girlfriends, who is Spanish, learnt to speak passable Irish 🙂
I never had any need to re-learn it
Michele
I am one of those who was let down by the educational system but didn’t let that discourage me in continuing to learn and use the language. I am in full support of the Irish language in all areas of life, in and outside of Ireland. If people want to use it then they should be allowed. If they don’t want to, well then they don’t need to, and no one is forcing them.
However, as well as being a Gaeilgoir I am also an esperantoparolanto (person who speaks Esperanto) and am in support of using Esperanto for all international discourse, such as at the EU, UN, NATO…..This would improve all communications (both in terms of precision and speed) and save funds, redirecting them to worthwhile causes like treating starvation in Africa…
I am not contradicting myself here. Different languages for main treaties and laws, Esperanto for day to day operations.
Go maire an Ghaeilge agus Esperanto!
Vivu la irlanda lingvo kaj Esperanto!
(Long live Irish and Esperanto!)