BF2S Forums Native Language

"Tuh-Tonka"   (sp?)

That's the only word I know in my native tongue

I think it's great too, a country must hold on to it's roots, but it's important to be able to speak more than just their one language that nobody else understands *cough*France*cough*

I'm actually part Irish like 1/32 or something maybe, since I got red hair.

PBAsydney wrote:

I'm actually part Irish like 1/32 or something maybe, since I got red hair.

I'm mostly Irish. Luckily I didn't get the ginger gene like you and Cam

PBAsydney wrote:

I think it's great too, a country must hold on to it's roots, but it's important to be able to speak more than just their one language that nobody else understands *cough*France*cough*

110 millions of francophones in the world....How many Islandais?????????

Russians are commies. Native Americans came from Russia. Native Americans are commies.

CameronPoe wrote:

The government of the Republic of Ireland have announced a new strategy to make the country fully bilingual in both Gaeilge and English by 2027. As a native fluent speaker I think that would be great, especially as Gaeilge is set to become an official EU language.

The problem is that the UK really did fuck our language good while they occupied our country?

I doubt it'll catch on. Kid's won't be interested and it'll become a second rate subject nobody wants to study except for the academics. They wouldn't have to be devising a 'strategy' if there was any demand for such lessons. I do like tradition though and to see a language die would be a shame but I think it's time the government of the Republic of Ireland looked at alternative strategies.

The English never 'fucked' your language either, that'd be your responsibility entirely!

CameronPoe wrote:

...and English is like a disease, it's so easy to just know English and not bother with any other languages. I take pride in my language as part of my identity and my cultural heritage (and as a secret code language abroad!) but many view the language as practically dead, despite the fact it is a compulsory subject at school from primary school right through to the end of secondary school. Israel managed to revive the language of Hebrew - can the Irish do the same with theirs? Do other nations see their native language being eroded by the influence of English? It seems no matter what country you go to you'll be able to get by with English...

I actually think it's a good thing that a single language has gradually been becoming world standard. If it weren't, then international communication such as occurs not only in tourism but on the internet would be much more difficult. At the same time, it's a shame to lose native languages because as they die, then so does a part of a people's history.

As a native English speaker, I have been quite comfortable in knowing this and no other language (besides technical jargon). Despite three years of Spanish in high school to the point where I was somewhat fluent in it, I have lazily allowed my memory of Spanish vocabulary to be eroded to the point where I can't really speak it anymore. Part of the cause has been my unwillingness or inability to disallow the practice of translating everything I said in it from English terms, instead of thinking in Spanish terms.

Over the next couple of years, I'd like to re-up my knowledge of Spanish vocabulary, as well as learn [edit]some[/edit] Gàidhlig, Gaeilge and Cymraeg. It's a bit optimistic, but if I ever manage that, then classical languages will be next.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2006-12-19 13:43:36)

Marlboroman82 wrote:

King_County_Downy wrote:

PBAsydney wrote:

I'm actually part Irish like 1/32 or something maybe, since I got red hair.

I'm mostly Irish. Luckily I didn't get the ginger gene like you and Cam

gingers rule looser

I never got that impression...

My native language is english.  We do have two languages here; maori (NZ native) and english.  Maori suffered a decline to the point where it was arguably almost nonexistent, but its been undergoing a revival in recent years with minimal promotional efforts, so I don't see why the same can't work for Gaeilge.

Rosse_modest wrote:

Bucephale wrote:

PBAsydney wrote:

I think it's great too, a country must hold on to it's roots, but it's important to be able to speak more than just their one language that nobody else understands *cough*France*cough*

110 millions of francophones in the world....How many Islandais?????????

Additionally French has had a huge influence on many other languages, in this respect only overshadowed by Latin.

Learn to think outside of Europe. French has had an influence on a few languages, but not too many. Latin was a large influence as well, but mainly in western Europe. Ancient Chinese was probably equally as influential in the Far East. Now if you're looking for a language that makes Latin almost look inconsequential, check out Sanskrit. It's the root of 300+ languages in Central Asia alone. That's not counting it's influence on languages as far east as Thai and Malay, but also as far west as Spanish and English.

I think it's a great idea from the Irish government. The Irish language deserves to be revived as it's part the Irish national identity.

Gaelige is also on my list of languages to learn. I know German, English and Spanish now so I might try and give Gaelige a whirl, it seems very difficult though, it is really hard to learn?

Oh and Cam, póg mo thóin