I've never heard anybody refer to an "irish language". Not sure if I'm an idiot or if it's normal for north americans not to realize that it was possible to speak irish. Is it related to gaelic?
Couldn't get over how the public looked at him like he was an annoying dick. We stayed in Salthill for a week once and the locals ONLY spoke in Irish while we were in earshot. They hated us.
In Elizabeth I's time, Oliver Cromwell drove the Irish West, away from the most fertile lands. That is why there is more Irish spoken in Dingle than in Dublin.
That was fascinating. I watched it all the way through. Despite the fact that I thought the presenter had a bit of a belligerent attitude in a way, he did make it very clear that there wasn't much space for Irish in Ireland among the generic public. I wonder if it's the same for Welsh? Does anyone know, has anyone tried the same thing there? I'm in Singapore at the moment for work ... there seem to be at least three languages flying about at any one time and people seem comfortable with it. Signposts are often in four languages. It doesn't seem to be seem as a bother. PS as Joanne knows, I live in Australia ... doesn't have a good history in preserving indigenous languages :-(
Maybe if he chilled out and joked about a bit more they would stop pretending they didn't know any Irish :) It's sad to see native languages disappearing.
I've never heard anybody refer to an "irish language". Not sure if I'm an idiot or if it's normal for north americans not to realize that it was possible to speak irish. Is it related to gaelic?
ReplyDeleteYes, we Irish talk about 'speaking Irish' Or there's gaeilge (or something) if you're saying 'Irish' in Irish.
DeleteBelieve it or not, I watched a lot of that. Fascinating!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't get over how the public looked at him like he was an annoying dick. We stayed in Salthill for a week once and the locals ONLY spoke in Irish while we were in earshot. They hated us.
DeleteIn Elizabeth I's time, Oliver Cromwell drove the Irish West, away from the most fertile lands. That is why there is more Irish spoken in Dingle than in Dublin.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that, and feel ashamed. Can count to 29 in Irish though, can't remember the word for 30, lol
DeleteKind of sad, I know how he feels when ever I call a business or government office, Press 1 for English
ReplyDeleteIt's embarrassing to go to another country and not speak their language but even worse if we can't speak our own.
DeleteThat was fascinating. I watched it all the way through. Despite the fact that I thought the presenter had a bit of a belligerent attitude in a way, he did make it very clear that there wasn't much space for Irish in Ireland among the generic public. I wonder if it's the same for Welsh? Does anyone know, has anyone tried the same thing there? I'm in Singapore at the moment for work ... there seem to be at least three languages flying about at any one time and people seem comfortable with it. Signposts are often in four languages. It doesn't seem to be seem as a bother. PS as Joanne knows, I live in Australia ... doesn't have a good history in preserving indigenous languages :-(
ReplyDeleteMaybe if he chilled out and joked about a bit more they would stop pretending they didn't know any Irish :) It's sad to see native languages disappearing.
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