Irish Translation Forum

I was looking at the UNESCO website and it's Atlas thing about the Status of Languages.

The Irish Language is marked "Definitely Endangered" while Welsh is only marked "Vulnerable", Scottish Gaelic is also Marked "definetly Endangered".

I'm very confused. How is it Irish which has more Speakers than Welsh, be labeled "Definitely Endangered", which puts it on par with Scottish Gaelic.

http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?pg=00206

Well according to their figures, Welsh has 170,000 speakers while Irish only has 44,000 so there's a pretty big distinction unfortunately

Oh, is it based on Native Speakers? Well, that's kind of stupid.

Yeah, I agree. It's seems a bit misleading. From what the information says, they only took data from the Gaeltacht areas, whereas, as this website clearly shows, there are tonnes more speakers...

So, where are they getting 44 000 from?

Tenebre wrote:So, where are they getting 44 000 from?

I have no idea - unless they base their stats on the number of native speakers who list themsleves as 'actively interested in promoting the language.' Even then (ESPECIALLY then, in fact), I'd take issue with the numbers, like many people here. Who knows where they get their figures??

I know that there is a debate raging at the moment in the UK as regards the promotion of the Welsh language. Perhaps the survey results are a coincidence of timing?

What's this about the debate over Welsh then? Are they trying to get it promoted more often?

brianocuinn wrote:What's this about the debate over Welsh then? Are they trying to get it promoted more often?

Some people are, yes. It's a very active subject here in the UK just now.

Darra_Joyce wrote:

brianocuinn wrote:What's this about the debate over Welsh then? Are they trying to get it promoted more often?

Some people are, yes. It's a very active subject herein the UK just now.

Hi, here is the rub ,I think if a native Welsh speaker moves to England does that mean he/she becomes one less in the statistics of Welsh speakers , conversely if an Irish native speaker moves out side the Gaeltacht does he/she become one less speaker in the statistics.?
Christy.