Irish language recognised by EU

BBC News ^ | June 13, 2005

[Ruadh]

Cymru am Byth!

Saesneg.

[AuH2ORepublican]

Since languages do not have to be translated into themselves, the formula is 1+2+...+12 = 78 (or (1+12)*(12/2) = 78). So yes, 78 would be the number of translators needed for 13 languages.

The worst part is, the EU now has 21 official languages, so you would need 1+2+...+20 (or (1+20)*(20/2)) translators in the EU. That's 210 translators! Of course, I assume that the guy who translates between German and French may also be able to translate into English and a few others, but he probably charges extra for that.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

...and I'm one of those filthy Gaeilgeoirí

Are you Irish?

[deaconjim]

ping

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Reconising an extinct language just to suit Sinn Fein/IRA - I guess the Eurocrats and the Provos are one of a kind.

[keat]

That's 210 translators!

Good math! Of course, you need some redundancy to cover vacations, sick leave, etc... It's also probably that there aren't even living people who can cover some of the combinations, especially the nuances of usage, etc...

Am I right to assume that if all languages only needed to be translated to English only 21 translators would be needed?

I believe all UN communications are translated to English and French only.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Just wondering - I have a ping list for Ireland related threads - anyone is welcome to join - interested?

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Reconising = Recognizing.

[wtc911]

At this stage , to get someone to recognise the EU, The EU would recognise Gobbledygook as an official language.

-----------------------------------

The Gobbledygookians are pressing hard.

[wtc911]

Just wondering - I have a ping list for Ireland related threads - anyone is welcome to join - interested?

Please add my name. Family from Donegal, Mayo, Longford and Sligo.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Am I right to assume that if all languages only needed to be translated to English only 21 translators would be needed?"

---

If they are only translated ito English, one would only need 20 translators (since English would not need to be translated into English : )


"I believe all UN communications are translated to English and French only."

---

Yeah, I think you're right, and official UN documents are only published in English and French, but I assume that they still need a gazillion translators to let the Hungarian ambassador know what the guy speaking Iwo is saying.

But Europeans are *so* much more civilized and nuanced that I'm sure they will insist in publishing everything in 21 different languages (and counting) . . . .

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Have just done so - I'm a Mayoman myself!

[Malesherbes]

The Irish were forced to learn English and then mastered English in a way that vastly enriched it with great writers. I am glad that Irish Gaelic has attained this status and I hope it will survive and thrive (after all the Israelis turned Hebrew into a modern working language.)

[Airborne1986]

"Whatever the reason, it is a dead language, or at least on life support. It makes no more sense than recognizing Welsh, or Cornish"

Cornish? Is that what hens say speak to each other?

[AuH2ORepublican]

The EU has no shame if it fails to recognize Manx as an official language. The fact that it currently has no speakers, whether within or without the Isle of Man, should not matter one whit. //sarcasm off//

[untenured]

That's 210 translators!

Thanks for the correction. For the record, here are the official languages:

Spanish
Danish
German
Greek
English
Gaelic
French
Italian
Dutch
Portuguese
Finnish
Swedish
Czech
Estonian
Latvian
Lithuanian
Hungarian
Maltese
Polish
Slovak
Slovene

[keat]

It's almost impossible to comprehend the scale that the EU bureaucracy will attain before it eventually implodes. It's like a miniature universe.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"here are the official languages:

Spanish
Danish
German
Greek
English
Gaelic
French
Italian
Dutch
Portuguese
Finnish
Swedish
Czech
Estonian
Latvian
Lithuanian
Hungarian
Maltese
Polish
Slovak
Slovene"

---

Hmm, Catalan and Basque are not on the list. I know that the EU Constitution was translated into Catalan and presented to voters in Catalan-speaking parts of Spain, so perhaps there's a second list of quasi-official languages of the EU.

[Youngblood]

If and when a majority of the people of Northern Ireland want reunification, the Brits will be out of there like a bullet. Believe me, most of the British people would be more than happy to be shot of Northern Ireland. The empire is gone, and they're fine with that.