What language is spoken in Ireland? What is Gaelic?

Ireland is a very small state. Its area is only 70.2 thousand square meters. Km. The country consists of 4 provinces, as well as 26 counties. Another 6 counties belong to Great Britain. In the general education schools of Ireland they learn their native language, but graduates are familiar with it in much the same way as Russian schoolchildren know English.

What language is spoken in Ireland?

In fact, there are two official languages in this country - the so-called Gaelic and English. Irish Irish - Gaelic (also Celtic) - belongs to a large group of Indo-European languages. It is considered an integral part of Celtic history. But to date, the Celtic language is most commonly used by the inhabitants of the Isle of Man. Historians believe that in the VI. BC. E. This language was brought to Ireland by Celtic settlers. From that time he became his own for the indigenous people. Neither Scandinavian nor Anglo-Norman migrants could change the language they speak in Ireland.

History that affected the use of language

But subsequent events have affected the spread of the Irish for the worse. The next stage in the linguistics of Ireland is the conquest of the dynasties of the Tudors and Stuarts. They lasted from 1534 to 1610 and contributed to the suppression of the Celtic dialect in Ireland. In 1654, Oliver Cromwell established his settlements here . This fact also adversely affects the daily use of the Gaelic language. The adoption of the Criminal Code in 1695, as well as the war with the Velyamites, worsened the situation. Thus, the number of those who spoke Irish became less and less.

The struggle for the return of Gaelic

In order to determine exactly what language is spoken in Ireland, one must keep in mind the following: the Gaelic language, which is truly Irish, is in fact a dialect of the Celtic brought to this locality. The closest related language for Gaelic is Scottish. In order to re-popularize its use, at the end of the XIX century the so-called Gaelic League was organized. To this day in Ireland, a large number of measures are being used to make the people speak their language again. Celtic language is really obligatory for study by all politicians.

However, despite all the measures, in Ireland so far the main role in communication is played by English. Therefore, one can not unambiguously answer the question: "What language is spoken in Ireland?". The official language here is Irish (along with English). However, this is only the letter of the law. After all, most of the population, despite all the efforts of the authorities, still does not know their native language. The classical version of the Gaelic language is used by only a small number of ethnic Irish. Even the French language here is owned by a larger number of people - about 20%. English is used in everyday communication, the vast majority - 94%. And despite this, 70% do not consider English to be a native language.

Dialects of Gaelic and generally accepted

To understand what language is spoken in Ireland, it is necessary to take note of the local dialects. In the northern part of the country, the Ulster accent is popular. In the west it is Connacht. In the southern part of Ireland, the people communicate using the Munster dialect. In the process of many reforms, a single variant of the Irish language was created. All books and newspapers are printed on it, and it is also standard on the international Gaelic exam. At present, the government apparatus of Ireland is trying its best to promote the Gaelic. In many counties, for example, it is forbidden to put names on the maps and road signs in English.

There is some difference in the language in Ireland and Scotland. Since Scotland began to be part of the United Kingdom, of course, English is the official language here. But not only him. Two other languages are also classified here as state: firstly, it is Anglo-Scottish, and secondly, Celtic-Scottish (also Gaelic-Scottish) languages. The latter came to the territory of Scotland much earlier than the Anglo-Scottish one. Seven centuries ago it was official on the territory of the country.

Features of Celtic

This language is in its own way a linguistic phenomenon and the object of numerous studies of scientists. For example, in Gaelic there is no category of "have" as such. If an ethnic Irishman wants to say "I have a hundred dollars," it will sound like the Russian "I have a hundred dollars." But in Gaelic there is no such thing as the English verb to have. For the phrase "I'm afraid" the Gaelic equivalent will be "there is fear in me". "I love you" will sound approximately like "In me there is love for you." The language spoken in Ireland may reflect the characteristic features of the worldview common to the whole ethnos.

The future of language

Scientists say that the chances of hearing Celtic in Ireland today are equal to the chances of facing the Mandarin accent of Chinese here. Gaelic is inextricably linked to the history of the country and reflects the long-gone epochs - those that are completely different from today's. However, the best poetic works of Ireland were written in Gaelic. Although he, of course, is unlikely to have the honor of becoming conversational, but intensified teaching in schools and universities, perhaps, will not finally give way to the amazing Gaelic language.