An File wrote: » I find it hilariously ironic that so many people praising their own fluency in English have such a poor command of some of its most basic rules.
dlofnep wrote: » I'm imagining if we all spoke Irish...
karlog wrote: » Oh and answer this if you could learn any language. Any language at all what would it be. I'd say it would be english or chinese or any language that is widely spoken not irish!!
Hagar wrote: » Go and live on the continent and see how far you get with only a knowledge of English. I live in France BTW. My son has a Polish friend who cannot speak either English or French so we speak to him in Italian. I speak pidgin German to my friend's children when they visit from Switzerland just for fun. I have an Irish friend to whom I have never spoken English. I freaked out my son's English teacher at a parent teacher meeting by discussing a children's project in Portugese with him. Do I speak Portugese? No, but I can manage Spanish. I put my polyglot abilities down to bi-lingualism that an Irish education offers if you have the gumption to pick up on it. I'm not even going to mention Arabic or Japanese in case it upsets your sensibilities. Speaking slower and louder in English only works for Basil Fawlty. Learn Irish and open you mind to the rest of the world.
conchubhar1 wrote: » you know all gardaí? even in the small area you live? wow! same with defence forces? wow!
dsmythy wrote: » :pac: Well they have come along quite nicely despite their eh handicap...
karlog wrote: » yeh i guess so:D
karlog wrote: » Ok you clearly going off the topic here and quit saying 'ignorance is bliss' it's starting to make you look ignorant
Dr.Poca wrote: » But as has been said, what about in other countries that have their own first language and learn English as a second, they get on grand. Why would Irish be any different?
dsmythy wrote: » So are the Finnish unlucky that they speak Finnish as their first language?
pjproby wrote: » As a matter of interest, does anyone know when the people of Dublin last used Irish as their main language? I don't mean pockets of the population but the entire city.
conchubhar1 wrote: » so disregard all the people who do...? they are insignificant puny gaeilgóir - they will feel the wrath.... bla blah blah ignorance is bliss no you do - english is not the most spoken language in the world
DubMedic wrote: » At least there are some people in certain areas who are still willing to speak it. Don't forget the Irish Military , The Irish Defence Forces, use it on a very regular basis. As well as the fact that the majority of government documentation & roadsigns are printed bi-lingually with Gaeilge , not to mention that our registration plates here in the Republic are in our Native tongue. If you are stopped by a member of An Garda Síochána , you have the right to conduct business with them As Gaeilge. I could go out my front door today or tomorrow and have a thorough conversation as Gaeilge with many people. Don't forget the crest on the old Ambulance Service uniforms, the crest had 'Seirbhís Otharcharr Na hEireann' stitched onto it. Now that would suggest that maybe some places actually do know Gaeilge, but yet nobody speaks it , right?. :rolleyes:
Elliot Round Pennant wrote: » Proof? This page says different, unless I'm wrong. English is my second language after all...
DubMedic wrote: » At least there are some people in certain areas who are still willing to speak it. Don't forget the Irish Military , The Irish Defence Forces, use it on a very regular basis. As well as the fact that the majority of government documentation & roadsigns are printed bi-lingually with Gaeilge , not to mention that our registration plates here in the Republic are in our Native tongue. If you are stopped by a member of An Garda Síochána , you have the right to conduct business with them As Gaeilge. I could go out my front door today or tomorrow and have a thorough conversation as Gaeilge with many people. Don't forget the crest on the old Ambulance Service uniforms, the crest had 'Seirbhís Otharcharr Na hEireann' stitched onto it. Now that would suggest that maybe some places actually do know Gaeilge, but yet nobody speaks it , right?. :rolleyes: .
Richard wrote: » English is the most widely spoken language. It's just not the most widely spoken first language.
karlog wrote: » No it isn't fair thats my point. Were lucky we speak english as our first language instead of irish. Since so few of the worlds population speak irish compared to those who speak english.
conchubhar1 wrote: » well its 5% or 1/20th population wise and size wize ireland is vastly smaller than the UK - so comparing irish to english isnt fair no is it?
Elliot Round Pennant wrote: » No it isn't...