I know that this is a very odd question, but I very much want to ask it anyways, so if any of you don't like perculiar questions, close this thread now.

I watched the DVD of "Man Of Aran" this weekend. Of more interest to me than the movie was the documentary about how the movie was made. This documentary was made in the 70s and the filmmakers go to the island (not sure which one it was) and talk to Maggie, the main actress, and other people associated with the 30s film. One particular scene really caught my attention and captivated it. They briefly showed an old man who I think played one of the boatman and he was coming to look at what they were doing, I suspect he was Maggie's brother-in-law or something because they had the same last name and she was very kind to him when he came.

Now the important part of this is that he didn't seem to understand English. He talked in Gaeilge and the filmers asked Maggie what he said and she tolt them. Then she talked to him and he talked to her.

During all this, the narrator said that his own lack of Irish made it hard to communicate with the man. After Maggie spoke to the man again and he was leaving I think he said one word of English and the filmmakers moved on to the next scene.

I see a few different explanations to this scene,
1. He simply chose not to speak in English and not to respond to English, after all, he shouldn't have to.
2. He just got nervous for whatever reason and Gaeilge is what came out even though he knew they couldn't speak it.
3. He had no English or very very little.

And it is the third theory that I've been wondering about. I want to know how possible it would have been, if at all, in the 70s for a person to have no English or only a couple of words if they were old and living out there. Coming from that I want to know what the most recent time is that such a situation could have happened. I know that it might be an odd question because "everyone in Ireland speaks English" but I very much want to know. I'd not thought such a thing existed but now I wonder.

Go raibh maith agat.

Beir bua agus beannacht

Michael Wood, the historian did a series in the eighties called "In Search of the Trojan War" which interviewed a seanchai from Erris in Mayo. He was monoglot in speech and showed a prodigious memory for stories. That was 1985.

There were still such natives in the 70s and 80s, so...that guy on the Aran Island may have been monoglot too

Go raibh maith agat,

I have been scrounging around the dusty corners of the Internet for anything relating to this idea which, I must say, has captivated me. I tried to find something about the man you mentioned above, Robert, but I was unsuccessful in finding much. I just have to find out more about this. I was reading some records from a Dail meeting about something in '97 and someone said that there were old people who were monoglot Irish speakers in his area, and people who had very limited English. I saw an old thread in the archives here but it only served to make me more curious. I would ever so much like to have some hardcore names or websites or something. I'd like to know how I can find out about Robert's man from Erris too. Thanks to the all of you.

Beir bua agus beannacht

I keep a journal at Live Journal, where there are several communities for language discussion. I recall one of the users, fainic-thu-fein, who is if I understand correctly a native Irish speaker born and raised in the US, telling me he spoke with a woman whose English was bad enough to call her a monoglot Irish speaker (this was in the 90s I think; he said she would probably be dead now). Maybe Fainic is even on these Daltái boards? I know we have some livejournal users here.

I'm really curious too. You've got me interested in that DVD now. Look forward to reading more of your findings and others' comments.

(Message edited by Aindréas on February 15, 2006)

Well, that man from Erris was on camera been taped, perhaps by the Folklore Commission or one of the many defunct linguistic institutes.

His name is somewhere, only talking to the right people is the question.

I sent a message here a bit but it didn't appear on the listing so it may not have sent, thus I write this in case it hasn't been put up correctly.

Andreas you should find a DVD of "Man Of Aran" and go to the special feature on the menu and when you get there watch the featurette called "How The Myth Was Made" and it is in that little documentary that you'll find the scene in question. I apologize if this is repeated but I wasn't sure if my first message worked.

Beir bua agus beannacht

Aindreas, achara,
I hope you are still reading this thread because I was wondering if you might write to your livejournal friend concerning his visit with that above mentioned woman in the90s. I found his journal with no difficulty but the rouble is that I can't read it unless I'm one of his cairde, which I'm not since I don't know the man. There was no way I could write to him on there (maybe I should try the forum) so I thought you might help me in that regard. As for the man from Erris I'm waiting for a response from the Department Of Irish Folklore to see if they know how I can see that video.

>> I'd like to know how I can find out about Robert's man from Erris too.

Seán Ó hInnéirghe.

John hInnéirghe atá i gceist agat, fear a taifeadadh, mar atá luaite ag Robert thuas. Mhaíodh sé nach raibh Béarla aige agus bhíodh ar Shéamas Ó Catháin na scéalta a mhíniú do lucht scannáin as Críocha Lochlainn is as áiteacha eile mar sin.

Chonaic mé uaim é (ó chúl tarracóra) sna hochtóidí agus bhí meas an-mhór ag muintir na háite air, beannacht Dé leis.


Stories of the sea and shore = Scéalta chois cladaigh / told by John Henry ; collected, translated and annotated by Séamas O Catháin. -- Dublin : Comhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann. University College, 1983

So I looked for "Stories Of The Sea And Shore" and every other reference given in the last post and was unable to find anything. Still waiting for Seamas O'Cathain to write back. I'll try to get Robert's Trojan War DVD and look at that scene he mentioned. Any more help from the all of you would be very, very much appreciated. Oh, and I replied to the thread that Aindreas sent me of livejournal. Thanks so much for the clues and ideas you all have given me.
Go raibh maith agat a chairde
Beir bua agus beannacht