Irish Translation Forum

This post is aimed at administrators

Please consider removing the word Gaelic from all English text. In Ireland when we speak about the Irish language in English we refer to it as Irish which is what the language is called in English. When we refer to the language as Gaeilge (when we speak Irish) we call it Gaeilge. We never use the term Gaelic in reference to the language.

Even the name Irish Gaelic translator is incorrect why not call it English Irish translation ( Aistrúcháin Béarla Gaeilge)

Dont want to be a prig but but have to say it bugs me

bbkcb wrote:This post is aimed at administrators

Please consider removing the word Gaelic from all English text. In Ireland when we speak about the Irish language in English we refer to it as Irish which is what the language is called in English. When we refer to the language as Gaeilge (when we speak Irish) we call it Gaeilge. We never use the term Gaelic in reference to the language.

Even the name Irish Gaelic translator is incorrect why not call it English Irish translation ( Aistrúcháin Béarla Gaeilge)

Dont want to be a prig but but have to say it bugs me

This is one that's been addressed before.

The problem is that a fair number of people who come here for translations are not from Ireland. If all they see is "Irish," they tend to assume that they've found a site for Hiberno-English.

Current usage aside, it isn't incorrect to refer to Irish as Irish Gaelic. Irish is a Gaelic language, and older speakers DO tend to refer to it as "Gaelic." It's a small concession to make, to avoid confusion.

Why would we call it "English-Irish Translator"? This isn't strictly an English to Irish site...we go the other way as well. And, in fact, we've occasionally done translations from languages other than English (Latin, German, French and Italian spring immediately to mind).

Redwolf

Cmon Redwolf Ive lived here for 45 years spoken Irish for as long. I never say I speak Gaelic when is say it in English I say I speak Irish, when is speak in Irish I say tá Gaeilge agam or labhraím Gaeilge The word gaelic only refers to traditions and football here under current usage

bbkcb wrote:Cmon Redwolf Ive lived here for 45 years spoken Irish for as long. I never say I speak Gaelic when is say it in English I say I speak Irish, when is speak in Irish I say tá Gaeilge agam or labhraím Gaeilge The word gaelic only refers to traditions and football here under current usage

You can certainly take it up with the owner of the forum if you like, but as I said, this has been hashed out over and over, and the decision made to keep the name to avoid confusion.

To give you an idea of just how easily confused people DO get about this issue...about half the time a person in the US, Canada, or elsewhere tells someone else he is learning to speak "Irish," he gets a blank look and the question "you mean you're learning to speak with an Irish accent?" or "I didn't know they had their own language." On the other hand, they RECOGNIZE the term "Gaelic," because it HAS been used, both in and out of Ireland.

When I'm speaking to people, I say "Irish," because it's a chance to educate. The class I'm teaching, however, is "Irish Gaelic for Beginners" (and was given that name, by the way, by the Irish person who started the class) because we don't want people showing up expecting me to teach them Hiberno English. The same is the case here.

45 years isn't old in my book. I did say "older speakers." And also, as I said, it isn't incorrect from a linguistic standpoint either.

But if it really bothers you, do feel free, as I said, to take it up with the owner of the forum.

Redwolf

Guess it shouldnt bother me but ive got to the stage when folks ask me do I speak Gaelic I say no (truthfully). In my view the Scots speak Gaelic. I spose over exposure to people who dont care to tell the difference

But OK if we want to promote the language I will keep my views quiet and contribute helpfully when I can

Well, I'm from Ireland, living here in Australia, and I've had to use the word "Gaelic" when talking about Irish.

If I say "Oh, I speak Irish" people reply with "Oh you mean? Top o the morning to ye? Tirty tree and a tird, sack of spuds tisn't"

what's even sadder is..the person who said this was Third Generation Irish, Darcy O'Connor, you'd think his grandparents would teach him abit about of his country. He thinks Irish is dead, and we hate hate detest English Protestants

It gets annoying, but I have trained my friends to understand what i mean when i say "Irish", my parents call it that too, so it gets annoying if it ever comes up and I have to remember "Gaelic..not Irish".

But Gaelic is kind of ambiguous, when people say "Oh my grandfather can speak some of that", and i ask "oh where is he from?" .."Edinburgh"

Eh ....

Also, it's also about Association. The French speak French, The German speak German, and in the minds of most of the world "The Irish speak English".

Oh, wait Yu Ming believed we just spoke Irish

It does get old, I will admit. Everytime I meet someone new, when the conversation turns to interests/pastimes, and I mention that I'm learning Irish, some wag spouts off with that "top o' the mornin" malarky.

Redwolf

Scots speak GALIC / Irish GAELIC, the term Irish is quite modern
Irish Gaelic is correct no matter how much you dislike it

The fact is most people outside Ireland call Irish Gaelic. In England, In the US, they all say "woow maaaan/ maaate you speak gaelic". And its also a fact that most people who request translations are not from Ireland. Its branding. The average american or brit would probably type in google "gaelic translations". You cant just change the name of the site, that means new web address, new branding etc which takes you out of google searchs & popularity. That said, im all for education. Maybe there could be a banner when you come onto the site, or a footnote just educating people. Its not anyones fault they dont know what Irish is called. Alternatively, if you really wanted to change the name the webaddress could be put on a redirect to a new one.
Sure its grand as it is though.
I have also heard some people call it Gaelic, not many, but one guy who was from Donegal, he was only about 50.