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Promoting Human Rights in IrelandHuman Rights in Ireland >>
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Wednesday February 22, 2006 19:16
by Seán
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Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7A shock new EU report has shown that 100% of Irish people can speak a foreign language, English.
The survey, conducted by the European Commission, puts Ireland at the top of the list for foreign language ability, followed closely by Luxembourg (99%), Sweden (97%) and Latvia (95%).
The report shows that the Irish are so good at learning foreign languages that 91% of them no longer speak their own language fluently
The UK is at the bottom of the list with only 38% of people being able to speak a foreign language.
European business leaders have congratulated Ireland's remarkable achievement.
“Hopefully everyone in Europe will follow Ireland's example and not only learn English, but forget how to speak their native peasant languages as well."
“Having just one language in Europe would be of great financial benefit to us all, romantic notions of culture and identity simply won't pay the bills in an increasingly competitive global economy"
”The fact that the language everyone should speak, English, just happens to be my own native language, is a COMPLETE coincidence” said Mr. C. Romwell, CEO of Cultural Imperialism Ltd.
Idh tinc dis ios ónlí seatidhr
thats foreign enough.
The report took the form of a survey and quizzed people on their language capabilities. One question asked in how many languages other than your mother tongue can you hold a conversation. 66% answered NONE. This placed Ireland as the most monolog country in the EU 25. In other words 66% could only speak ONE language.
Irish and English are the languages of Ireland. So 66% of people surveyed therefore only spoke English* The survey did not ask HOW MANY FOREIGN LANGUAGES DO YOU SPEAK! So the situation is actually WORSE than the article makes it out to be.
* As everyone in Ireland of school going age and over can speak English, and Irish speakers in that group are bi-lingual and would be included in 34% who spoke at least two languages well enough to hold a conversation.
proclamation of the gaeltach
Proclamation of the gaeltach
The gaeltacht - if we consider it as a physical location occupied by Irish speakers has all but perished. English now permeates much of its land. For those who care, the failed strategy so far has to been to throw resources (usually intellectual rather than financial) at it. For those who don't care, the strategy has been to goad those who still speak Irish about its death. In a country that speaks mostly English the moral burden imposed on these Irish speakers, in their role as guardians of a language struggling for survival, is thus unacceptable.
It is time we reconceptualised the gaeltacht. Its culture has been transformed. The gaeltacht should no longer be seen as a physical location. With the internet, the gaeltacht is now virtual. It exists where the Irish language and culture exists. In the gaelschools, on you tube, on myspace. Anyone anywhere in the world who participates in this culture, belongs to this gaeltacht. They share the moral responsibility for its survival as much as anyone else. They should share and shoulder its burden.
The gaeltacht is dead, long live the gaeltacht!
and with that the proclaimer set off to learn his native language, muttering something inaudible.
I read somewhere of a journalist who was abducted in an African country, & the abduction was witnessed by an Irish colleague of his. Censorship was in operation, & phone-lines were tapped, but the colleague managed to phone someone in Europe, in Irish, to contact Amnesty International, who were able issue Urgent Actions to get the abducted person released. International Gaeltacht.
Considering that the EU are hoping that Ireland will vote yes to the Lisbon Treaty.
They would do well to engage brain and apply diplomacy, before criticising those for whom they are looking for a favour from!
Because to put forth such a critique at this stage is rather like shooting themselves in the foot.
All things considered then we would do well to avoid strengthening the club of such brainless oafs & vote No