Using Irish when you really don't speak it

bobbyss

Why do some people insist on speaking Irish at the end of the All Ireland for example the captain mangling Irish.

Or radio presenters saying Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam after someone dies when they never use Irish at all and can't.

Just like Ray D'arcy introducing the 4pm news on his program. It makes a mockery of the language and himself.

What is the reason for this strange behaviour?

AlanG

Because they are Irish I would guess - its their language and like anyone they can use it as they see fit.

Gregor Samsa

Fairly harmless use of a language that has a cultural significance for many in the country, even if it's not widely spoken. Nothing worth getting worked up about, tbh.

theteal

Making a mockery is a bit strong I would think. Trying to keep some semblance of a connection with the old teanga more like.

I'm likely "guilty" of this one myself. . .when my English 6yr old comes in crying and I ask "ahhh cad a tharla?", she knows exactly what I'm asking. We'd have a quite a few little simple phrases in daily use, off the top of the head (spellings be damned):

Maidin/Oiche mhaith

An bhfuil tu go maith

Tabhair dom e, le do thoil

Ar mhaith leat uisce/cupan tae

Her personal favourite, can't fault her either - Is brea liom caca milis

Should we just banish it and focus on the Spanish (becasue we do a bit of that too)?

WrenBoy

I think its good that people drop it in where they can.

I'd love if it became more used in the every day, with people speaking English and dropping a cúpla focail.

Needs a few popular personalities in the young Irish Zeitgeist to do that though, I don't think Hector is going to cut it haha (ag gaire out loud even :) )

WrenBoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119872794#Comment_119872794

You hit on a good point actually, I think a lot of people would be scared to use more Irish in the everyday (written/spoken) because they worry about using it wrong and looking an eejit. If its technically incorrect but gets the message across, who cares? The purists mightn't like it and it'd maybe become some "pidgin Irish" but I think its better than nothing and might move the language in the right direction.

EmmetSpiceland

The Irish language won’t be going anywhere as long as the protectionism, and mockery, that goes on with these “attacks” on people trying to incorporate the smallest among into everyday speech.

You should see the complaining, that goes on, in the “Radio” forum whenever Shane Coleman says a line, or two, throughout the morning. I, personally, think it’s great when someone gives it a go. Especially, someone with a “platform”.

I should point out that it’s rarely a “native” Irish speaker, from the Gaeltacht, bleating about it. It’s, almost, exclusively from someone who attended a gaelscoil for primary school or someone who, simply, despises the language.

Cushtie

I see no harm in it whatsoever. We don't want to totally forget our past I suppose. It is something I feel more strongly about as I get older. I would love to be able to converse in Irish. I can't give any explicit reasoning for it, just a feeling I guess. Our young one has started school and is bringing home alot of words as gaelige now and it's amazing how it all comes back.

Andrea B.

Ciao!

Badly Drunk Boy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119874381#Comment_119874381

Most Irish speakers would be delighted at people trying to use the language, even if it is just a few words and any mistakes would be forgiven.

I was looking at a piece about Creidim Ionat, a new Irish language campaign, and somebody made the point that people make enough grammatical mistakes when speaking English (their first language), so making mistakes when trying to make the effort with Irish should be even more forgivable, and not a reason to be scared to speak it.

https://www.forasnagaeilge.ie/creidim-ionat-is-launched/?lang=en

Furze99

A Chara,

The answer you seek is Tokenism

Is mise le meas

riclad

i think djs or presenters are told to use a few sentences of irish if they work for rte tv and radio ,i dont have a problem with it, i can,t remember any dj on 98fm,or 104fm, classic hits 94 fm speaking irish.in 2022 they only people who speak irish in daily life are people who live in the gaeltacht .at least 20 per cent of the population is non nationals who have never learned irish in school. its pure tokenism.i think

theres zero chance of irish being revived or spoken by ordinary people ,the average young person watchs youtube,tik tok, twitch, streaming tv everyday which is mostly english language content.unless you are a teacher or tg4 presenter irish has no practical value in real life.

Strumms

The bôllocks of having the All Ireland winning captain having to go to the hassle of writing out a two minute speech in a language they are unlikely to be fluent in, get up, when they are literally dead on their feet, knackered to bits and focus on that oration….purest of snivelling tokenism and grim politics.

Last thing the night before an all Ireland anyone would want.