Why can nobody speak Irish?

Dostoevsky · 18-07-2013 11:32PM

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

... but hardly "of huge relevance"?

Who are you to say what is or is not of "huge relevance" to that person? Irish is of huge relevance to any of us who are conscious of the placenames, surnames, first names, histories and culture around us here in Ireland (which in fairness you say you're not). It is also relevant to those of us who associate friendships and companionship with speaking it.

Some people are not conscious of it and couldn't care less if they remain ignorant of the literature, expressions, poetry and the entire world of Irish. Their ignorance, fortunately, does not determine the value of Irish - no matter how much they bleat on in threads like this about how "pointless", "dead" blah blah Irish is.

gurramok · 18-07-2013 11:42PM

For the record my last Irish teaching class was about 20 years ago. I don't know if it the teaching in secondary school has improved since then(my nephews went to an Irish language school and can speak Irish fluently now).

Back then for me, the emphasis was on Peig before we could even be able to speak the language. It was atrocious and yes the vast majority left school struggling to pass the Pass Irish exam in the Leaving. Coincidentally alot more(including myself) were able to pick up French and pass the honours exam for French with pride.

What does that say? Irish was taught wrong whereas French was not. Now, i am no way "anti-Irish lingo", I just wished it was taught properly to me in school for all the 12 years of it. And at the end of the day I do dearly wish we could speak our own language, its a pity we cannot.

MickFleetwood · 18-07-2013 11:44PM

Dostoevsky wrote: »

Who are you to say what is or is not of "huge relevance" to that person? Irish is of huge relevance to any of us who are conscious of the placenames, surnames, first names, histories and culture around us here in Ireland (which in fairness you say you're not). It is also relevant to those of us who associate friendships and companionship with speaking it.

Some people are not conscious of it and couldn't care less if they remain ignorant of the literature, expressions, poetry and the entire world of Irish. Their ignorance, fortunately, does not determine the value of Irish - no matter how much they bleat on in threads like this about how "pointless", "dead" blah blah Irish is.

Who are you to call a person ignorant when it's simply of no relevance to that person?

Dostoevsky · 18-07-2013 11:47PM

MickFleetwood wrote: »

Who are you to call a person ignorant when it's simply of no relevance to that person?

Er, they're ignorant of it?

here
ig·no·rance [ig-ner-uhns] noun
the state or fact of being ignorant; lack of knowledge, learning, information, etc.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 18-07-2013 11:49PM

Dostoevsky wrote: »

Who are you to say what is or is not of "huge relevance" to that person? Irish is of huge relevance to any of us who are conscious of the placenames, surnames, first names, histories and culture around us here in Ireland (which in fairness you say you're not). It is also relevant to those of us who associate friendships and companionship with speaking it.

I know - I never intoned difference. But why is it therefore of huge relevance to everyone?

Some people are not conscious of it and couldn't care less if they remain ignorant of the literature, expressions, poetry and the entire world of Irish. Their ignorance, fortunately, does not determine the value of Irish - no matter how much they bleat on in threads like this about how "pointless", "dead" blah blah Irish is.

Agree, which is why I never called it pointless or dead. I'm of the oponion that each person - and by person, I include students - should choose for themselves whether or not it's personally relevant to them or not.

looksee · 18-07-2013 11:49PM

MickFleetwood wrote: »

Who are you to call a person ignorant when it's simply of no relevance to that person?

While I don't particularly agree with his sentiments, I think he was using the word ignorant in its correct form, rather than as a casual insult.

April O Neill · 18-07-2013 11:51PM

beks101 wrote: »

It makes me sad that I have so few Irish friends I can speak to in Irish though.
It's a wonderful language.

I've never really liked it - don't like how it sounds.

Mr. G · 18-07-2013 11:56PM

Because its usually taught badly and I'm afraid to say nobody has any need to speak it.

I feel teachers aren't teaching it as a life skill but more for an exam. It drains the culture bit out which is what's Irish is all about. I'm sure teachers would love to have a class where kids actually learn the language in a fun and intuative manner without being struck off for not teaching the curriculum.

The best way to learn a language is to live in that language, not learning a book for an exam

Dostoevsky · 18-07-2013 11:56PM

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Agree, which is why I never called it pointless or dead. I'm of the oponion that each person - and by person, I include students - should choose for themselves whether or not it's personally relevant to them or not.

In fairness, though, they don't get a choice in most other subjects either, and if they were given a completely free choice many would choose the course of least resistance and do drama, art, and other such subjects. The numbers choosing to do maths, for instance, would plummet because many/most people find it difficult, and they probably will never use a quadratic equation after they leave school so it's hard to argue that maths (as opposed to sums) are relevant to many people. And so on.

MickFleetwood · 19-07-2013 12:01AM

Dostoevsky wrote: »

Er, they're ignorant of it?

here
ig·no·rance [ig-ner-uhns] noun
the state or fact of being ignorant; lack of knowledge, learning, information, etc.

I thought you were insulting those who don't waste they're time learning useless shít. My apologies.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 19-07-2013 12:01AM

Dostoevsky wrote: »

In fairness, though, they don't get a choice in most other subjects either, and if they were given a completely free choice many would choose the course of least resistance and do drama, art, and other such subjects. The numbers choosing to do maths, for instance, would plummet because many/most people find it difficult, and they probably will never use a quadratic equation after they leave school so it's hard to argue that maths (as opposed to sums) are relevant to many people. And so on.

There's only three that they can't drop. I can flip this on it's head by asking why we give the the choice to learn stuff like ecnomics, biology, art, but we don't let them choose Irish.

And I don't believe this "path od least resistance" - Irish shoudl not be compulsory purely to teach them that thigns are hard and inevitable. Also, kids will study something they find interesting. They will do things they find hard. Irish people don't become rock stars and olympic boxing champions by avoiding things that are hard.

astonaidan · 19-07-2013 12:14AM

MickFleetwood wrote: »

Also, can somebody actually explain why I should care about Irish culture, exactly? It means very little to me to be honest.

:rolleyes: Your too cool for school brother

MickFleetwood · 19-07-2013 12:17AM

astonaidan wrote: »

:rolleyes: Your too cool for school brother

People like you actually disgust me. How am I being "too cool for school" by not caring about Irish culture? You think I'm trying to impress you, or other people? These things don't impact on my life in any way, shape or form. I have no interest in it. None. Or should everybody just hold the same viewpoints as you?

astonaidan · 19-07-2013 12:19AM

MickFleetwood wrote: »

He said most of Ireland, deliberately leaving out the few places where they may speak it.

By the way, I've been to Baile na nGall in Kerry and they rarely spoke Irish. I heard one person speak the language, and that was in a single shop. They otherwise exclusively spoke English.

Cannot comment on the rest.

Haha This is what happens when Blow Ins come into the area, they speak English cause they think you wont understand it :pac:

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 19-07-2013 12:19AM

astonaidan wrote: »

:rolleyes: Your too cool for school brother

Because he has a different set of preferences?

fibonaccii · 19-07-2013 12:20AM

People tend to only learn and but effort into learning things they can see a point to and will have benefit to them, with Irish there is no point, useless outside of Connemara.

MickFleetwood · 19-07-2013 12:20AM

astonaidan wrote: »

Haha This is what happens when Blow Ins come into the area, they speak English cause they think you wont understand it :pac:

Yeah, I'm sure. Is that why when I was in a pub everybody in the pub, including the bartenders and staff, etc. Spoke English exclusively despite having literally no knowledge that I didn't speak the language? Locals around the town? People in most of the shops milling around?

astonaidan · 19-07-2013 12:37AM

MickFleetwood wrote: »

People like you actually disgust me. How am I being "too cool for school" by not caring about Irish culture? You think I'm trying to impress you, or other people? These things don't impact on my life in any way, shape or form. I have no interest in it. None. Or should everybody just hold the same viewpoints as you?

Righteo Kiddo, you realise not caring about your culture is a disgusting trait, Im glad that you are part of an ignorant minority, but you know if we elevate to aggressive you will prove your point.
You say Irish culture doesn't affect you, im sure if you look around and well actually used your brain youd realise how ignorant you statement is.
Anyways rabble rabble rabble, Im different, God Im cool, rabble rabble rabble

astonaidan · 19-07-2013 12:38AM

MickFleetwood wrote: »

Yeah, I'm sure. Is that why when I was in a pub everybody in the pub, including the bartenders and staff, etc. Spoke English exclusively despite having literally no knowledge that I didn't speak the language? Locals around the town? People in most of the shops milling around?

Dude, You might not think it, but you can spot a blow in a mile away

MickFleetwood · 19-07-2013 12:52AM

astonaidan wrote: »

Righteo Kiddo, you realise not caring about your culture is a disgusting trait, Im glad that you are part of an ignorant minority, but you know if we elevate to aggressive you will prove your point.
You say Irish culture doesn't affect you, im sure if you look around and well actually used your brain youd realise how ignorant you statement is.
Anyways rabble rabble rabble, Im different, God Im cool, rabble rabble rabble

You are so incredibly mistaken about me and what I'm about. I don't care about you enough, or anybody on boards.ie to make statements to appear cool or different.

Do I realize it's a disgusting trait? Yeah, I do. Maybe it is terribly ignorant. I still don't care about it, and I don't really care about your misinformed opinion of me, either.

You're the one who's rabbling on about nothing, clearly. You're barely even being coherent here. Why would I care about my culture when so much of it has been shoved down my throat in a disgusting manner? Or when you have people such as yourself coming along to judge and criticize me for not holding or sharing the same views as you?

astonaidan · 19-07-2013 01:14AM

MickFleetwood wrote: »

You are so incredibly mistaken about me and what I'm about. I don't care about you enough, or anybody on boards.ie to make statements to appear cool or different.

Do I realize it's a disgusting trait? Yeah, I do. Maybe it is terribly ignorant. I still don't care about it, and I don't really care about your misinformed opinion of me, either.

You're the one who's rabbling on about nothing, clearly. You're barely even being coherent here. Why would I care about my culture when so much of it has been shoved down my throat in a disgusting manner? Or when you have people such as yourself coming along to judge and criticize me for not holding or sharing the same views as you?

I think my opinion of you is spot on tbh, you say yourself you are being terribly ignorant, you come across as a poser.
Not being coherent, ok Champ you say that Irish culture doesnt affect you, now granted Irish language might not, but saying the culture doesnt is idiotic.

Ill put it this way, have you ever played GAA? If not have you ever been slagged over not playing GAA? To say you arent affected by a culture which is all around you is well impossible.

As for judging you, I dont judge idiots I usually ignore them, I was just trying to enlighten you to your ignorant statements , but whatever kid if you want to continue living in denial about well good for you, enjoy being the guy in the pub or sports team/poetry reading that well nobody can stand

19-07-2013 01:23AM

astonaidan wrote: »

If not have you ever been slagged over not playing GAA?

You'd have to be some almighty cunt to slag somebody because they don't play any GAA sports.

astonaidan · 19-07-2013 01:29AM

Deleted User wrote: »

You'd have to be some almighty cunt to slag somebody because they don't play any GAA sports.

I was using it as an example, like I dont even play GAA myself, probably should have said have your friends never asked you to come down for a few sessions, that youd love it :pac:

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 19-07-2013 01:35AM

astonaidan wrote: »

Righteo Kiddo, you realise not caring about your culture is a disgusting trait, Im glad that you are part of an ignorant minority, but you know if we elevate to aggressive you will prove your point.
You say Irish culture doesn't affect you, im sure if you look around and well actually used your brain youd realise how ignorant you statement is.
Anyways rabble rabble rabble, Im different, God Im cool, rabble rabble rabble

So let me get this straight - blindly following a set of rules and traditions you have no control over and without any personal choice is... NOT ignorant...??

How the hell does that work?

19-07-2013 01:37AM

astonaidan wrote: »

I was using it as an example, like I dont even play GAA myself, probably should have said have your friends never asked you to come down for a few sessions, that youd love it :pac:

How is friends asking you to come play some GAA slagging you? I've never played GAA or Soccer or any other sport beyond skateboarding in my life. Never saw the appeal of it but to think that there are such narrow minded, backwards people out there who would see my not playing GAA as a reason of make fun of me is ridiculous.

MickFleetwood · 19-07-2013 01:38AM

astonaidan wrote: »

I think my opinion of you is spot on tbh, you say yourself you are being terribly ignorant, you come across as a poser.
Not being coherent, ok Champ you say that Irish culture doesnt affect you, now granted Irish language might not, but saying the culture doesnt is idiotic.

Ill put it this way, have you ever played GAA? If not have you ever been slagged over not playing GAA? To say you arent affected by a culture which is all around you is well impossible.
.
As for judging you, I dont judge idiots I usually ignore them, I was just trying to enlighten you to your ignorant statements , but whatever kid if you want to continue living in denial about well good for you, enjoy being the guy in the pub or sports team/poetry reading that well nobody can stand

No, I haven't played GAA. I have absolutely no interest in it. I do, however partake in other competitive sports though and was quite skilled at it.

I'm not living in denial, thanks. You come off as completely inferior, and up yourself, so I'm done speaking with you.

I have not ever been slagged for not playing GAA. Most of the people I know aren't that stupid or cúntish. Can't say the same for you however. I also love you constantly calling me an idiot because I have a separate viewpoint. Are you really that blinkered and ignorant?

shruikan2553 · 19-07-2013 01:40AM

astonaidan wrote: »

I was using it as an example, like I dont even play GAA myself, probably should have said have your friends never asked you to come down for a few sessions, that youd love it :pac:

Why dont you play GAA? Its your culture. You should be down the local pitch speaking irish and baetin' them prods who come on your turf. Sure you're not really irish if you cant name every GAA player from the past 10 years.

astonaidan · 19-07-2013 01:48AM

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

So let me get this straight - blindly following a set of rules and traditions you have no control over and without any personal choice is... NOT ignorant...??

How the hell does that work?

Where did you get that out of my comment,
Like for example, Im a catholic but I dont go to mass, but it still forms a huge part of my life.
Ive used GAA as an example. I dont play it so it doesnt affect me that way, but like I went up to Dublin for the leinster final.
I play soccer in a part of Ireland where we speak Irish, so I speak it, but like I speak German, French, Spanish and English, does this mean Im blindly following the rules.

The main point I was trying to make in my comments is that its impossible to not partake in Irish culture, the same way its impossible for Spanish to not be Spanish, French be French etc.
Where you grow up shapes you as a person, no matter how hipster you try be, you will always be an Irish hipster, culture shapes you as a person saying you dont like Irish culture and its given you nothing usually shows how naive you are to other cultures, grass greener on the other side sort of mentality.

MickFleetwood · 19-07-2013 01:51AM

astonaidan wrote: »

Where did you get that out of my comment,
Like for example, Im a catholic but I dont go to mass, but it still forms a huge part of my life.
Ive used GAA as an example. I dont play it so it doesnt affect me that way, but like I went up to Dublin for the leinster final.
I play soccer in a part of Ireland where we speak Irish, so I speak it, but like I speak German, French, Spanish and English, does this mean Im blindly following the rules.

The main point I was trying to make in my comments is that its impossible to not partake in Irish culture, the same way its impossible for Spanish to not be Spanish, French be French etc.
Where you grow up shapes you as a person, no matter how hipster you try be, you will always be an Irish hipster, culture shapes you as a person saying you dont like Irish culture and its given you nothing usually shows how naive you are to other cultures, grass greener on the other side sort of mentality.

I'm not trying to be hipster or different in any way. :pac: I'm much the same as most people my age. I don't have an active interest in Irish culture.... Pretty much like most of the people I've met. Of course my culture shaped me as a person, I never stated that it didn't.

I'm not saying I dislike Irish culture, either. I'm just not interested in it. Grass is greener on the other side? What are you talking about? You come off as incredibly hostile and judgmental, instantly labeling me as something which I actually am not because of a single comment I made which happens to disagree with your views. Not everybody is going to love the country they live in, or enjoy the culture, either.

MickFleetwood · 19-07-2013 01:56AM

astonaidan wrote: »

enjoy being the guy in the pub or sports team/poetry reading that well nobody can stand

:rolleyes:

Why can nobody speak Irish?

Comments