[tdadams]

This is a fascinating subject. I don't agree with the linguistic fascism as it is with the Welsh language, but I think preserving a language is noble.

I was recently in Ireland and Scotland, visiting some of those towns where Gaelic is still the first language. The people there are very proud of their heritage and are vigilant in keeping Gaelic alive.

I would dispute the claim of 1.75 million speakers of Gaelic in Ireland, though. There are only a little over 3 million in the country. Gaelic as a first language is only used in remote parts of the sparsely populated western coast and some of the north. I'd say a great majority of the country does not know Gaelic.

[Koblenz]

What about that woman in the GE commercials who needs computers for half the kids in Ireland? She speaks Gaelic... And that's what makes that commercial improbable).

[Snuffington]

I would dispute the claim of 1.75 million speakers of Gaelic in Ireland, though. There are only a little over 3 million in the country. Gaelic as a first language is only used in remote parts of the sparsely populated western coast and some of the north. I'd say a great majority of the country does not know Gaelic.

If I'm not mistaken, it is a required subject in Irish schools these days. That may account for such a large number.

Additionally, I am told there has been a push in recent years to use Gaelic in all official government documents alongside English. I know that now you now see Gaelic as well as English on all the street signs, and that did not use to be the case.

Personally, I'm torn on my feelings about this sort of thing. I love the idea of preserving a heritage and culture. But language is one of the things that unites a nation. I don't think it's any better for the United Kingdom to be balkanized than it is for the United States.

[alisasny]

I happen to have a good friend from Ireland.

Only little bity babies can NOT speak gaelic. It is mandatory in school to age 18 so just about everyone can speak it.

[Loyalist]

There a still a few hundred native-born speakers of Scots Gaelic in Cape Breton, and a couple thousand more who have learned it as a second tongue. Even into the late 19th century, there were monoglot Gaelic speakers there.

[Cacique]

More multiculturalist crap. Why don't we bring back Aramaic or Latin or maybe Phoenician while we are at it?

Yes, let's maintain separate cultures and identities here in the states while we are at it. All this multiculturalist nonsense leads to further divisions and separatness and tribalism. Food for leftist movements who use it to divide and conquer.

I say that the day that English is the lingua franca in the entire planet can't get here soon enough. American English, that is.