CENSUS 2011, Can you speak Irish?

deise go deo

LordSutch wrote: »

Question No 14 in the Census asks . . .

"Can you speak Irish" YES or NO?

"If Yes, do you speak Irish"
1/ Daily, within the educayion system.
2/ Daily, outside the education system.
3/ Weekly.
4/ Less often.
5/ Never.

I have truthfully answered question No/2 with a Yes
BUT CAN I REALLY SPEAK IRISH? in the context that the census requires?
I can obviously say 'yes' to one liners, and 'yes' to daily outside the education system, but surely they are looking for people who can actually converse in Irish to tick the YES box? I occassionally say Suigh síos (sit down) to the dog , and I might also say to my missus for a laugh Dún an doras (close the door) + several other one liners every other day, so I do speak/use a few words of Irish every other day.

I guess many people like me will also say YES to one of the boxes without actually being able to converse in the Irish language, should this be cause for concern? or does it really matter if the Census says that 70% of the population can speak Irish (like me), when in reality its more like 10% who can 'speak' (can actually converse in depth) in the Irish language.

The poll attached is my 'modified version' which includes an obvious admission (on their part) cupla focal

The last census, 2006, showed that 47% (Not 70%) said they had Irish.

I think the main problem with the census is that it ask's about frequency of use but not fluency. I think a question relating to fluency would give a more accurate result and would be more useful in the long run.


As for myself, I use Irish most days. I'm not fluent(Yet) but I can hold a reasonable conversation.

OPENROAD

deise go deo wrote: »

The last census, 2006, showed that 47% (Not 70%) said they had Irish.

I think the main problem with the census is that it ask's about frequency of use but not fluency. I think a question relating to fluency would give a more accurate result and would be more useful in the long run.


As for myself, I use Irish most days. I'm not fluent(Yet) but I can hold a reasonable conversation.

Maybe its just me, but to me the initial question "can you speak Irish" is straightforward and implies fluency or certainly a very good grasp of the language, does it not?

megafan

What I'm trying to do, is to show up the 'Irish question' for the farce that it is.[/QUOTE]


I'll have to say I can "no I can't speak Irish" on the census form.... I Can speak Irish little better than the bit of French, Spanish, Italian or German picked up on holidays, travel etc. over the years... I certainly can't say I can speak a foreign language & while I've been taught Irish (my national language) all my schooling years & surrounded with it daily it just never sunk in! Why? I dunno..

deise go deo

OPENROAD wrote: »

Maybe its just me, but to me the initial question "can you speak Irish" is straightforward and implies fluency or certainly a very good grasp of the language, does it not?

You would think so, but the results suggest other wise.

I think the answer may relate to aspiration rather than ability.


Perhaps if the question was 'Can you speak Any Irish?'

And then a Table with options ranging from between Cupla Focal and Fluent the result would be more accurate.

OPENROAD

deise go deo wrote: »

You would think so, but the results suggest other wise.

I think the answer may relate to aspiration rather than ability.


Perhaps if the question was 'Can you speak Any Irish?'

And then a Table with options ranging from between Cupla Focal and Fluent the result would be more accurate.

Fair point , those options would be good

Cú Giobach

Stained Class wrote: »

My problem with the 'Language Cranks' is that that they expect everybody to pay for their 'hobby'

I've got hobbies of my own..............Hmmm.... maybe, I should ask the Govt to buy me a new Fishing Rod..........or a set of Golf clubs....or....:rolleyes:

Yea spot on, the government shouldn't fund anything unless every man, woman and child in the state is interested in it or needs it.
Just think of all that money wasted on art, sport, museums etc....
It's a disgrace the government spending money on things that don't make more money, sure isn't the accumulation of wealth "the meaning of life".
Shocking carry on. :rolleyes:

In answer to the OP, option 1..Yes.

almostnever

My friends and I speak it at lunch at least once a week.

Vicxas

Fluent in irish, havent used it in years tho...

Dravokivich

Kneel...

blockedPaT

Yea i can but never used irish except for school

Paddy De Plasterer

Deleted User wrote: »

The question should have been a two parter, first part on the competency and the second part on the frequency.

most people with a few words answered they can speak Irish, which is false. When census results are released Gaeilgeoiri will say there are over a million irish speakers living here, when in fact there are only about 26,000.

Paddy De Plasterer

OPENROAD wrote: »

Maybe its just me, but to me the initial question "can you speak Irish" is straightforward and implies fluency or certainly a very good grasp of the language, does it not?

I have an admission to make I was an enumerator and Irish speaker. When door checking a census form on collection, I saw that one woman had said she could speak Irish and used it every day. I just said a few words as Gaeilge to her and she had not a clue ! Enumeration job is an ordeal for the pittance that is out of it, having to call to houses several times on delivery and collection. I reckon I hardly had 5 euro per hour for all the time i put into it. The really big money is for regional and field supervisors.