Belgae: Kelts, Germans or something else?

Cool.

Lol

Hey, I'd love to be able to speak modern Irish, let alone old and middle.

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Irish was my first language

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Ranika how do you think about the future of Irish in Ireland?!
The number of speakers of Irish is declining I heard.

(Please correct me if I talk bullshit;-) )

The number of people speaking Irish as a first language is declining.
The number speaking it as a second language is increasing.

Taliferno is correct overall, but it's more based upon where in Ireland. In western Ireland on the coasts, the Gaeltacht are growing, but diminishing elsewhere (including in western non-coastal Gaeltacht). However, both through the Irish Republic's programs and personal interest, there is a very quickly growing group who speak it as a second language. In the republic, the number of speakers of Irish overall has greatly increased, and there are many foreigners who can speak Irish. Overall, I think the future of the language is quite bright, as it is increasingly associated with both national and cultural identity; regardless of its presence as a first or second language, it will remain in use for quite some time, I'm sure.

In any event, it is far better off than it was just a handful of decades ago.

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Originally Posted by Ranika

Taliferno is correct overall, but it's more based upon where in Ireland. In western Ireland on the coasts, the Gaeltacht are growing, but diminishing elsewhere (including in western non-coastal Gaeltacht). However, both through the Irish Republic's programs and personal interest, there is a very quickly growing group who speak it as a second language. In the republic, the number of speakers of Irish overall has greatly increased, and there are many foreigners who can speak Irish. Overall, I think the future of the language is quite bright, as it is increasingly associated with both national and cultural identity; regardless of its presence as a first or second language, it will remain in use for quite some time, I'm sure.

In any event, it is far better off than it was just a handful of decades ago.

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Nice to know it. ~:) I just hate to see a language die. ~:(
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If only Scots Gaelic had comparable support.

Ya never know. Who'd have thought Welsh or Finnish would bounce back?

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Originally Posted by anonymous_joe

Ya never know. Who'd have thought Welsh or Finnish would bounce back?

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I wasn't aware that Suomi was in decline.

Yes it's true suomi is in decline