Not fluent in Irish

Chickenkeev · 2024-02-04T18:25:45+00:00

My dad was a native speaker and tbh i'm quite annoyed that he didn't pass it on. I'm not awful at the language, but i could be so much better. He did nothing for us, so it's not an isolated thing, but i'm just irked about the language. Rant over, sorry!

MarieDeGournay · 04/02/2024 18:51

I'm very sorry to hear that, Chickenkeev, I understand that fluency in a language that's such an important part of your family heritage, would have been a precious gift to have received from your father.

I'm not saying this to defend him at all, it's not about him, but in general native speakers didn't always have the same warm feelings for the language as 'enthusiasts' from the Galltacht eg my family, had. For one thing, it was just the way they spoke, not An Teanga with all it's romantic Celtic mist or nationist overtones. For some, it may have been associated with hard times, with a social and family environment that was restrictive, and English was the modern, useful, near-global language that could benefit children in the future.

We know now that bilingualism is in fact beneficial to children, but previous generations didn't, and that's how languages die out, unfortunately.

I'm sorry you feel deprived of something precious that could so easily have been yours by rights, but just keep reading and speaking and listening and enjoying an Gaeilge as much as you can. Make it yours.. Beir bua is beannacht☺

Original poster

Chickenkeev · 04/02/2024 20:16

MarieDeGournay · 04/02/2024 18:51

I'm very sorry to hear that, Chickenkeev, I understand that fluency in a language that's such an important part of your family heritage, would have been a precious gift to have received from your father.

I'm not saying this to defend him at all, it's not about him, but in general native speakers didn't always have the same warm feelings for the language as 'enthusiasts' from the Galltacht eg my family, had. For one thing, it was just the way they spoke, not An Teanga with all it's romantic Celtic mist or nationist overtones. For some, it may have been associated with hard times, with a social and family environment that was restrictive, and English was the modern, useful, near-global language that could benefit children in the future.

We know now that bilingualism is in fact beneficial to children, but previous generations didn't, and that's how languages die out, unfortunately.

I'm sorry you feel deprived of something precious that could so easily have been yours by rights, but just keep reading and speaking and listening and enjoying an Gaeilge as much as you can. Make it yours.. Beir bua is beannacht☺

It's Gaeltacht. And tbh my issues go far beyond the language. But i'm very angry that the useless fucker never bothered to teach me the language. It was the one thing he could have done.

OP posts:

MarieDeGournay · 04/02/2024 21:34

No, the Galltacht is what I meant, ie the parts of the country that are not Gaeltacht. Wishing you well, go n-éirí leat.

Original poster

Chickenkeev · 04/02/2024 21:38

MarieDeGournay · 04/02/2024 21:34

No, the Galltacht is what I meant, ie the parts of the country that are not Gaeltacht. Wishing you well, go n-éirí leat.

I've never heard of the Galltacht tbh. I will look it up.

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Original poster

Chickenkeev · 04/02/2024 21:42

MarieDeGournay · 04/02/2024 21:34

No, the Galltacht is what I meant, ie the parts of the country that are not Gaeltacht. Wishing you well, go n-éirí leat.

Looked it up, never knew that before. Tá brón orm don snark.

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Mumof3onetwothree · 04/02/2024 22:19

For what it's worth....I lived abroad when very young and was bilingual from speaking with local children ...when we came home my dad who is fluent in that language tried to keep me speaking it and I refused because I didn't hear it around me any more. He tried but I suppose it is hard to keep up the discipline even with best intentions. I totally lost the language.
It is very hard with Irish as we do not hear it all around us. My children are in a Gaelscoil and one of the teachers admitted his children wont naturally speak Irish at home even though he and his wife do all the time....as soon as they encountered other children speaking English that's all they wanted to speak.
I have heard adult Irish speakers saying how militant their parents were about making them speak Irish at home...pedantic about correcting Grammer etc...and they resented it.
It's hard unless you live somewhere where the language is all around you.

Original poster

Chickenkeev · 04/02/2024 22:37

Mumof3onetwothree · 04/02/2024 22:19

For what it's worth....I lived abroad when very young and was bilingual from speaking with local children ...when we came home my dad who is fluent in that language tried to keep me speaking it and I refused because I didn't hear it around me any more. He tried but I suppose it is hard to keep up the discipline even with best intentions. I totally lost the language.
It is very hard with Irish as we do not hear it all around us. My children are in a Gaelscoil and one of the teachers admitted his children wont naturally speak Irish at home even though he and his wife do all the time....as soon as they encountered other children speaking English that's all they wanted to speak.
I have heard adult Irish speakers saying how militant their parents were about making them speak Irish at home...pedantic about correcting Grammer etc...and they resented it.
It's hard unless you live somewhere where the language is all around you.

I know it's hard, i'm just particularly peeved that he was a fluent speaker and neglected to pass it on. I'm not the worst at it, but i should be so much better. If i had a grounding in it. But he was too lazy to bother. (I am aware this is a rage against my father post, sorry about that)

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Abhannmor · 05/02/2024 08:48

A bhuel @Chickenkeev ...táimid uilig sa bád chéana 🛶.
I got that on a tee shirt for my son's gf BTW. She's mad into rowing. Imrámiocht...I think

Corondel · 05/02/2024 08:57

I hear you, @Chickenkeev — not just on Irish, because the list of things my parents didn’t teach us (including basic hygiene), would fill a refill pad. Maddening. Even if I also understand the failure.

Táim ag iarraidh feabhas a chur ar mo chuid Gaeilge faoi láthair.

Original poster

Chickenkeev · 05/02/2024 09:03

Corondel · 05/02/2024 08:57

I hear you, @Chickenkeev — not just on Irish, because the list of things my parents didn’t teach us (including basic hygiene), would fill a refill pad. Maddening. Even if I also understand the failure.

Táim ag iarraidh feabhas a chur ar mo chuid Gaeilge faoi láthair.

Sorry to hear that. It's crap to look back and realise how bad childhood was. The irish thing just irks me massively as it wouldn't even have cost any money. Just a huge wasted opportunity. But, he wasn't a nice fella so thinking rationally, it's not surprising.

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MarieDeGournay · 05/02/2024 09:25

Hey, Chickenkeev, ná bac leis an 'snark', it's ok, but thanks for saying that 😀 I get that it's a very upsetting subject for you. Hope the responses here help a bit. Beir bua!

Abhannmor · 06/02/2024 12:10

I spent a week in Gleann Colmcille in 2019 where I met a lovely Protestant guy who was on the same course. He was from Antrim and told me his da had been an RUC inspector. But he regarded Irish as part of his heritage. Furthermore there are people learning Irish in East Belfast , a Unionist area. Why not ? Many of their ancestors spoke Irish or Scottish Gaelic which is similar.

We were going great and planned to meet up in 2020 but then ...bloody Covid. So I'm starting again but hopefully from a higher base. Tús maith leath na hoibre!