Polish as official 3rd language

connundrum · 19-10-2007 10:38AM #1

A guy (the editor I think) from Szpila Magazine, a Polish Community mag was on the radio this morning promoting the idea of introducing Polish as the official 3rd language of Ireland.

The reasoning behind it being that there are 250,000 Poles living in Ireland and that life for them is relatively difficult i.e. reading signs, communicating with officials etc. The thinking is that once Polish is recognised as an official language, then all documents will have to be produced in triplicate. (There were a number of other benefits but I was driving and didn't catch the others)

He was all for it, suggesting that Irish people could be learning Polish in schools, that Polish people would benefit from it in that it'd aid integration into Irish society. He even went as far as to suggest that a few Polish history lessons mightn't go amiss.

What to do...

Poco Loco · 19-10-2007 10:41AM

I feel nothing negative at all towards Polish people, or any Eastern Europeans, and I do think they should be welcomed into Ireland. However, I don't think many of them plan to settle here forever. Is it not more the case that they want to work here for a few years, save up and go home to live in Poland? As a result, wouldn't the addition of the language be pointless in the long run. America and the UK did not add Irish as a 2nd official language when we all headed over there years ago and it worked fine...

Kintarō Hattori · 19-10-2007 10:45AM

Now that's just a mad idea. The majority of Poles are here as economic immigrants and most of them will eventually leave when the economy takes a downward turn.
Also as economic immigrants they knew the score when they were coming here. We speak english and not polish, so it's up to them to get a grasp of the language.

Promoting the idea of Polish as a third language at this stage is simply ludicrous. I can't imagine that anyone could really see it as being a real possibility as the conditions for it aren't right. I can only suspect that this chap is trying to grab his 15 minutes of fame and perhaps make a name for himself.

I say all of this having been with my polish girlfriend for almost 3 years, having bought an apartment with her just recently in Poland. I am often to be seen in 'Polish' threads defending the Poles but this 'idea' is madness.

knightmare · 19-10-2007 10:45AM

A lot of american schools do teach spanish though! Possibly because of the large number of south american immigrants

0ubliette · 19-10-2007 10:46AM

No.

prendy · 19-10-2007 10:47AM

thats a stupid idea...im all for welcoming people into the country but enough is enough.

magick · 19-10-2007 10:51AM

no

its

irish

english
&

well bud

bohsman · 19-10-2007 10:52AM

knightmare wrote: »

A lot of american schools do teach spanish though! Possibly because of the large number of south american immigrants

No stats to back it up but afaik Spanish is the second most used language on the internet, close 2nd to English in a lot of areas in the States and is also taught in some Irish schools along with German and French.

Still madness to introduce Polish as a 3rd language here.

super_furry · 19-10-2007 10:52AM

Are there any conclusive numbers when it comes to immegrants? I was always under the impression that the Chinese were the biggest group?

purple'n'gold · 19-10-2007 10:52AM

Polish people are very welcome here. They are Europeans, very much like ourselves, and the ones that will stay here long term (the minority I’m afraid) will integrate totally in a relatively short space of time. It’s a terrible pity that they didn’t send boat loads of beautiful Polish women here 40 years ago! But that’s a discussion for another day. But, making Polish the 3rd official language? That’s just plain daft, kite flying I would reckon.

Owen · 19-10-2007 10:54AM

I gotta say I'm with eo980 on this too. I'm with my Polish missus for about 2 years now, and we've lots of Polish friends. My other half is happy to stay here, but her friends will return to Poland as soon as they have enough money put away. This Polish in Ireland phase is just that, a phase. We have a great economy currently, and it attracts migrant workers, and as soon as that economy downturns, they'll be off home, or to the next bouyant market.

Making long term plans to change the education of Irish people to suit an immigrant demographic is a little silly. I'm learning Polish at the moment, and it's not easy by any means, and I do think our educational system would be better served teaching students some of the larger economic languages, German, Spanish, etc.

SimpleSam06 · 19-10-2007 10:55AM

Nyeh. Some eastern european nimrod trying to raise a fuss and get a name for himself. Nothing to see here. Talking about it at all is only helping the numpty.

Tigger · 19-10-2007 10:56AM

Poco Loco wrote: »

I feel nothing negative at all towards Polish people, or any Eastern Europeans, and I do think they should be welcomed into Ireland.

here come the big but the size of the butt on a school nurse

However, I don't think many of them plan to settle here forever. Is it not more the case that they want to work here for a few years, save up and go home to live in Poland?

the mexicians and irish in america would beg to differ
more "irish" in the US than in ireland

As a result, wouldn't the addition of the language be pointless in the long run. America and the UK did not add Irish as a 2nd official language when we all headed over there years ago and it worked fine...

irish is the second language of those who went the the states and the Uk

the mexicians who setteled in the states had spanish as their first language and its every where in certain areas

(i'm just saying)

Stephen P · 19-10-2007 10:59AM

I've never heard of such a ridiculous idea in my life. 250,000 in the whole county isn't that many to warrant having it as a 3rd language

cornbb · 19-10-2007 11:05AM

Its a dumb idea. Poles and whoever else are welcome in our country as far as I'm concerned but making Polish an official language is a few steps too far.

I agree with the practice of making information available in foreign languages though, this is the case with citizensinformation.ie, bank documentation etc etc already. I also think that a certain amount of government subsidisation for Polish cultural initiatives would be apt; they do make a large tax contribution after all.

SimpleSam06 · 19-10-2007 11:07AM

rbd wrote: »

the mexicians and irish in america would beg to differ
more "irish" in the US than in ireland

Okay, so when Ireland becomes a continent with more space and resources than it knows what to do with, your analogy might actually hold some water.

Actually Ireland mostly allowed in so many Polish because the UK was doing it, and we have an open land border with the UK. The UK itself was astounded at the scale of the economic migration, and as far as I know cut back drastically on the numbers it was letting in. Should migrants prove detrimental to Ireland or Irish culture, the same can be done here as well.

I'd say trying to make Ireland into a "little Poland" definetely qualifies as seccessionist activity as well.

Agent Smith · 19-10-2007 11:08AM

Bunreacht Na h&#201 wrote: »

Article 8
1.The Irish language as the national language is the first official language.

2.The English language is recognised as a second official language.

3.Provision may, however, be made by law for the exclusive use of either of the said languages for any one or more official purposes, either throughout the State or in any part thereof.

here Lies a Slight Problem.
To make Polish, or any other langauge official, It would have to be ratified by referendum.
The Vast Vast Majority of people that could Vote in such a referendum would be Irish people.

Terry · 19-10-2007 11:11AM

Hi. I've just moved here from a foreign country and am looking for a way to unsettle the natives and create a general dislike for my fellow countrymen.

Does anyone know of a quick way of doing this?

Tigger · 19-10-2007 11:12AM

Terry wrote: »

Hi. I've just moved here from a foreign country and am looking for a way to unsettle the natives and create a general dislike for my fellow countrymen.

Does anyone know of a quick way of doing this?

slow poision in the big macs and dig shallow foundations for their badly planned houses

growler · 19-10-2007 11:14AM

cornbb wrote: »

.

I agree with the practice of making information available in foreign languages though, this is the case with citizensinformation.ie, bank documentation etc etc already. I also think that a certain amount of government subsidisation for Polish cultural initiatives would be apt; they do make a large tax contribution after all.

have to disagree with you, the english government who bent over backwards to make all races / creeds feel welcome in sunny London by producing every governemet document in 40+ languages recently admitted that such a practice didn't help and actually reinforced the marginalisation of minorities. If someone is going to work live in ireland or anywhere, learn the native tongue, simple.

wes · 19-10-2007 11:17AM

I am a child of an immigrant and when my mothers family came here in the 70's they learned the language. If someone plans on living here,they should really learn the language. Anyway I am sure they guy who said this probably knows full well how stupid what he said is and its just a grab for attention.

Kintarō Hattori · 19-10-2007 11:20AM

Terry wrote: »

Hi. I've just moved here from a foreign country and am looking for a way to unsettle the natives and create a general dislike for my fellow countrymen.

Does anyone know of a quick way of doing this?

Let's try and remember that the Poles haven't actually asked for this. It's been put forward by the editor of one magazine. I'd hate to see any resentment or backlash at these people for the actions of one guy.

Let's keep that in focus.

Terry · 19-10-2007 11:22AM

growler wrote: »

have to disagree with you, the english government who bent over backwards to make all races / creeds feel welcome in sunny London by producing every governemet document in 40+ languages recently admitted that such a practice didn't help and actually reinforced the marginalisation of minorities. If someone is going to work live in ireland or anywhere, learn the native tongue, simple.

I've been saying the same thing for a while now.

We have seen what happens when immigrants do not integrate.
It just creates ghettos.

This post was brought to you by S.O.D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBCos2MlQ1Y

Terry · 19-10-2007 11:23AM

eo980 wrote: »

Let's try and remember that the Poles haven't actually asked for this. It's been put forward by the editor of one magazine. I'd hate to see any resentment or backlash at these people for the actions of one guy.

Let's keep that in focus.

I'm well aware it was just one guy, but tell that to the small minded people out there who are just looking for an excuse to throw abuse at foreign people.

Kintarō Hattori · 19-10-2007 11:26AM

Oh I know Terry, I was just reitterating that it was just ONE guy.

SimpleSam06 · 19-10-2007 11:30AM

eo980 wrote: »

Oh I know Terry, I was just reitterating that it was just ONE guy.

It usually is though, isn't it?

justsomebloke · 19-10-2007 11:32AM

Terry wrote: »

Hi. I've just moved here from a foreign country and am looking for a way to unsettle the natives and create a general dislike for my fellow countrymen.

Does anyone know of a quick way of doing this?

you could become an over bearing mod on the most popular forum of their countries biggest website

An Citeog · 19-10-2007 11:44AM

Definitely not a good idea. How many people in Ireland have actually mastered both the Irish and English languages? There are so many languages that would be beneficial for the Irish people to learn (eg. Spanish, Mandarin etc) and Polish isn't one of them. English has become the common language around the world and is the language of commerce. If Polish people, eastern Europeans in general, Chinese etc. want to live and work in Ireland, it's for their own benefit that they learn English.

purplengold wrote:

It’s a terrible pity that they didn’t send boat loads of beautiful Polish women here 40 years ago! But that’s a discussion for another day.

Why didn't anyone else think of that? I mean, we could've manipulated the Irish gene pool to create some sort of "master race". I'm sure I heard that someone tried this before. Not sure how it turned out though?!

zuutroy · 19-10-2007 11:46AM

Thats one of the stupidest ideas I've ever heard

cornbb · 19-10-2007 11:48AM

jsb wrote: »

you could become an over bearing mod on the most popular forum of their countries biggest website

With respect to Terry (who is great), this is the funniest post I've read today

Jesus Wept · 19-10-2007 11:48AM

No.

Polish as official 3rd language

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