… heh, heh …

Héé héé

hí, hí

Made my year lol but its early yet ,, AGOA

The story about that hacker is funny of course and we all laughed at it but I was wondering about this: is getting unionists backs up like that the best way of getting an Irish language act through the assembly? I mean if the DUP think that the language is being used to take the mick out of them, they'll oppose the language all the more, will they not? What do people here think? Do I have a point?

I think the point of it was to get publicity on the DUP stance, not to modify it. Sort of reductio ab absurdum

But I think that Sinn Féin & the DUP using Irish as a bargaining chip has well and truly poisoned that well for some time.

quote:

But I think that Sinn Féin & the DUP using Irish as a bargaining chip has well and truly poisoned that well for some time.

I couldn't agree more.

As soon as Partition raised its head, there should have been a Gaelic Language agency of some kind established to keep the language out of the political debate...something to bring together the Gaelic speaking (mainly Presbyterian) Scots and the (mainly Catholic) Irish speakers in Ulster (or Ireland in general).
I wonder what good (if any) it might have done for the language but at least it would have taken that perceived difference out of the equation. In the turmoil of the 1920's such an idea was a bit far-fetched.

Go háirithe i ndiaidh an scoilt sa Chonradh roimh 1916....

Can I ask about "is mise" for "my name is"? In that Utv link, Peter Robinson says "is mise Peter Robinson". I have seen that in Tús Maith, I think, but it doesn't seem right somehow, as it just means "I am X", which, at least in English, seems not the right thing to say when you would say "my name is X". Is this usage preferred in some parts of the country? Or is it just seen as an easier construction for learners? David atá orm would seem much better than is mise David...

(Message edited by corkirish on January 18, 2011)

"Is mise" is common usage; It means "I am" rather than "My name is"

(It is also the way to sign a letter and has been for centuries)

Is mise, Aonghus!

Thank you.

I think "is mise" to sign a letter means "I remain", as in "I beg to remain your humble servant".

Perhaps.

quote:

I have seen that in Tús Maith, I think, but it doesn't seem right somehow, as it just means "I am X", which, at least in English, seems not the right thing to say when you would say "my name is X".

But in English you would say both!: "Hello. I'm John/My name's John, what's yours/your name?". Why would saying "I'm John" be wrong?

I take both of your points, but I still feel that "is mise" may have had a boost in the modern era owing to its simplicity for learners.

If so, it has a pedigree!

---

145] ‘Is mise Nemglan, rí énlaithi do athar & ar- garad
146] dít díbrugud én ar ní fuil sund neach napad dír dait
147] ó a athair nó máthair’.

http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/G301017.html

# Is mise Fintan fili,
nirsam écne óen-lindi;
is and romtócbad co mblaid
ar in fót-brug os Temair.

http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/G106500A.html

yes, Aonghus, I'm probably looking at it through English spectacles