Referendum ballot language

riffmongous

I was just reading a thread on the politics forum about people being confused by the language of the recent referendum, and I was just looking at the ballot, and is the Irish phrasing in that correct? Unfortunately my Irish isn't very good anymore but does the use of 'tá' and 'níl' make sense?

HansHolzel

Irish has no words for 'yes' and 'no' so instead you have to affirm something (Tá) or deny it (Níl).

Another pair of options would be Is ea ('It is') or Ní hea ('It isn't').

riffmongous

HansHolzel wrote: »

Irish has no words for 'yes' and 'no' so instead you have to affirm something (Tá) or deny it (Níl).

Another pair of options would be Is ea ('It is') or Ní hea ('It isn't').

But if it's a question they are asking can you still use those words? I would have thought you would need to use a verb to respond..

Insect Overlord

Tá and Níl should only be used to answer to a question starting with "An bhfuil __________?" or "Nach bhfuil ____________?"

Sea and Ní hea should only be used to answer "An ea ________?" or "Nach ea _________?"

The options on the ballot paper, given the way the question was posed, should have been "Toilíonn - Yes" or "Ní thoilíonn - No"

HansHolzel

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Tá and Níl should only be used to answer to a question starting with "An bhfuil __________?" or "Nach bhfuil ____________?"

Sea and Ní hea should only be used to answer "An ea ________?" or "Nach ea _________?"

The options on the ballot paper, given the way the question was posed, should have been "Toilíonn - Yes" or "Ní thoilíonn - No"

You may have to take it up with the Clerk of the Dáil. They have always used Tá and Níl there.

Insect Overlord

HansHolzel wrote: »

You may have to take it up with the Clerk of the Dáil. They have always used Tá and Níl there.

I'm sure they have. They usually phrase the question to suit the answer though!

HansHolzel

And what about Tá (mé i bhfabhar) and Níl (mé i bhfabhar)???

Insect Overlord

HansHolzel wrote: »

And what about Tá (mé i bhfabhar) and Níl (mé i bhfabhar)???

On closer inspection of the photographs, I think you're correct.

The question is at the top of the paper.

"An bhfuil tú ag...?"

The instructions next to the boxes had me confused.

Mea culpa!

HansHolzel

It's OK, I'm only messing, really

riffmongous

Insect Overlord wrote: »

On closer inspection of the photographs, I think you're correct.

The question is at the top of the paper.

"An bhfuil tú ag...?"

The instructions next to the boxes had me confused.

Mea culpa!

Hm, that could be it alright.. (I also did not see the top of the paper) but wouldn't a 'mé' still be required?

feargale

riffmongous wrote: »

But if it's a question they are asking can you still use those words? I would have thought you would need to use a verb to respond..

Strictly speaking you are correct, but I would think that sea and ni hea ( sorry, my tablet doesn't do accents ) have by usage become legitimate ways to express yes and no. Remember, Latin had no words for yes or no, but its offspring, French, Spanish, Italian etc. have devised forms for yes and no. A purist might equally argue that they shouldn't do so. Usage, my boy, usage!

Míshásta

Maybe they should use the non-standard versions of yes and no that have crept into the Irish of many speakers.

Ie (Yeah) - Ná (Naw)