Irish Translation Forum

I am not seeking any translations, (as I have fluent Gaeilge) but I have to express my concern on the ignorance of some non-irish people.
I managed to involve myself in a debate on second and first languages the other day in a chatroom.
Out of the blue, some idiot (claiming to be Scottish) stated that there was no such language as Irish and that I was making it up.
He went on to say I was talking about Gallic or Scots-Irish, and refused to consider that Irish was a language.
I explained that there were Gaeltachts where many people go about there lives speaking the language.
But ... to no avail. Then I explained that it was taught in schools in our country. He refused to believe me.
He said he was Scottish and living in the country.
My ceist is , how can a Scottish person not know that there is a language such as Irish when they are beside us (basically). I am still in shock.

Any comments, Daithí

*Decides best to ignore*

Is mór an méid daoine a shíleann

a) nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge ina teanga
b) go bhfuil an teanga Gaeilge marbh

- Cad is féidir liom a rá?!

Buachaill Og wrote:My ceist is , how can a Scottish person not know that there is a language such as Irish when they are a neighbouring country. I am still in shock.

Any comments, Daithí ?[/i]

Well, I have one.
Why does your message header refer to the "ignorance of Americans/English" when the person who seems to have wound you up (and it may well be that that's exactly what they were trying to do) claimed to be Scottish?

Buachaill Og

The pre-edited title of your message was illogical, the edited one is just plain insulting.
Any chance you could change it again. Maybe to "the ignorance of the person I met in a chatroom who didn't know that there is an Irish language and how we should all be seriously perturbed by this."

Merryploughbhoy wrote:Maybe to "the ignorance of the person I met in a chatroom who didn't know that there is an Irish language and how we should all be seriously perturbed by this."

nah - it won't fit

te to point out but Ireland does not "neighbour" scotland. Im sure that this person had not heard of irish persé but not all scots r like that. I am scottish and I live next to an irish person (oh and I am not sami1654).

LOL Buachaill Og - you may be redeemable after all

(although prolly not)

I'm insulted that you refered to the ignorance of Americans when the individual was from Scotland. If you let every stupid comment send you over the edge you're in trouble, because there many stupid opinions all over the world.

I would just say that there are stupid people in every country who say and do stupid things.... so why not just let this one go eh? Besides there are many people I know of who think it is just called Gaelic and that there is no such thing as Irish. It is just ignorance if it was genuine and if someone is ignorant of something there just is not a whole lot you can do if they wont accept the truth ya know. So, oh well....