Time to dump Irish

FishOnABike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120526147#Comment_120526147

It's all a matter of degree. A bit like evolution, European Australians split from their European roots from 250 years ago or so and their language and culture have developed in their own direction since. Time and the level of ongoing interconnection with their roots (and other languages and cultures) influence how distinct their identity becomes. Aboriginal Australian's go back another 60,000 years or so.

Similarly European settlers in America go back 500 years give or take, and as is said of the UK and USA "Two countries divided by a common language" Although closely related, they have developed in their separate ways.

It's all a matter of degree. Our language is part of what gives us a distinct iidentity, part of what makes the world such a diverse and interesting place. To lose our language would be to lose part of that.

Where are you from is about far more than geography.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120526263#Comment_120526263

This is my point - your history and roots will have more influence in you than a language you don't speak and don't like. Saying it's 'yours' makes no difference. Saying nations don't have souls is bullshit.

It's only 'yours' if you speak with it and connect with it. And despite best efforts, a connection can't be forced!

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120424870#Comment_120424870

That's fine - you just send your kids to the Gaelscoil and it can be abolished as a necessity elsewhere. Wins all round.

Rosita

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120526171#Comment_120526171

I don't imagine the "Tír gan Teanga" line was ever meant to relate to "official" languages but if are going down that route then your general argument is redundant as Irish is an official language.

As for non-Portuguese languages in Brazil, many are official languages in different areas of a country incomparably vast in relation to Ireland.

And, yes, a simple aphorism did get quite a reaction from you. If you take an entirely utilitarian attitude to language then I suppose it will rattle your cage. But you probably wouldn't believe the interest in and affection people have for various languages.

For some reason most Irish people have little interest in languages. Even the cliched "I was fluent in French/German but couldn't learn Irish" (therefore it's someone else's fault) people will go to Australia/America or somewhere else that is like Ireland with sun rather than go to a European country and use a language.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120530085#Comment_120530085

Simple question then - is Brazil a country without a language? If not, then what is the language?

Arrogance always rattles my cage, as you put it, and I don't feel the need to defend this attribute.

I agree with your last paragraph, but that's the same everything. I'd love to be able to play the piano, for example, but...

No one blames anything though. We all know we cant because we didn't want it bad enough and weren't that interested. C"est la vie.

Guildenstern

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120522913#Comment_120522913

No, the hatred comes from the complete waste of time pupils have to spend on this rubbish. If people want to waste their time on a dead language that nobody needs to ever actually have to use, they only desire to, fine. Let them at it.

Just don't force the rest of us. If it was 'our language' we'd be speaking and writing it now. We don't. Case closed.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120526263#Comment_120526263

How is Irish your language exactly? Do you speak it day in and day out at home with your family? Use it to conduct business and to achieve the daily tasks of living, read Irish literature? Do the people around you do the same.

The Irish language influenced the dead generations that gave us our history and traditions, but it has no more an influence on the average Joe or Mary today than any other language they have little understanding of. You can’t be influenced by something you don’t know and don’t care about!

Our language is Hiberno-English, it is an English dialect spoken by about 5 million people in their daily life and it is the actual language that influences us, not a language that most people don’t understand are hear no more often than they do most of the other main European languages.

Rosita

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120530476#Comment_120530476

Brazil is a country of many many languages. You mentioned an "official language" previously. All that does is confer a particular status in the language in official usage.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120531229#Comment_120531229

But every country has a language, if that's the standard.

Unless you're telling me what he's actually saying, is: a country without a linguistic means of communication is a country without a soul.

Odd. Also, not exactly wisdom.