Pedr ap Ioan

…de This is South Wales:

A Town councillor has demanded a Welsh translation service so he and other Welsh speakers can be understood during meetings.

The Plaid councillor took up his position on the council after this month's elections.

But when Pedr ap Ioan arrived for his first meeting at Kidwelly Town Council he was furious to find there was no provision for Welsh speakers.

Councillor ap Ioan, who represents Mynyddygarreg Ward, told fellow councillors: "It is my right as a Welsh speaker to be able to speak Welsh in the meetings.

"The council is supposed to have a Welsh language policy, but where is it? - I don't see it in action."

At the meeting, which was held in the Gwenllian Court Hotel, Councillor ap Ioan said he was disappointed there were no translation facilities for meetings. He is now demanding that a £50-a-time translator turns up for meetings.

Anti-Gaelismo?

…de la John O’Groat Journal:

The opposition in Caithness to the introduction of bilingual road signs risks giving the impression that the county is anti-Gaelic, it was claimed yesterday.

Those behind the successful bid to bring the Royal National Mod to the Far North in 2010 also fear the campaign endangers the cultural and financial spin-offs the area can secure from the event.

Well-known Gaelic singer and activist Raymond Bremner yesterday singled out for criticism Highland councillors who are pursuing moves to overturn the authority's policy of erecting bilingual signs in all areas.

While claiming the argument to oppose their introduction in Caithness is flawed, Mr Bremner believes the high-profile ongoing campaign is undermining the efforts to provide a welcoming image in the run-up to the Mod.

He said: "The councillors need to understand that if they keep going down this path they will be damaging the efforts we are making to promote Gaelic and to encourage as many people as possible to come to the Mod."

David Healy…kaj Irlandalingvo?

...de la Ballymoney Times:

A row has erupted after a DUP councillor alleged a person wanting to speak to Moyle District Council was shown the 'red card' about a football competition being run by the Ulster Scots Agency involving Northern Ireland football star David Healy…

… Cllr McIlroy said the man was "trying to do something for the young people of Bushmills".
This summer David Healy will host a football skills course for children on behalf of the Ulster-Scots Agency.

Sinn Fein councillor Oliver McMullan wanted to know how much funding Ulster-Scots related activities get from Moyle Council.

Cllr McIlroy said they again had a situation because Ulster-Scots and Bushmills was mentioned "everybody in Sinn Fein wants to ask questions".

Cllr Padraig McShane (Sinn Fein) said recently his party asked for support for funding for Irish language street signs which did not go ahead and he wanted to know the Council expenditure on Ulster Scots as opposed to the Irish language.

Council Vice-Chairperson, Ulster Unionist councillor Helen Harding, said the reason the Council didn't support the Irish language street signs was down to cost.

Ulster Unionist councillor Willie Graham said: "I think most of the people coming to this area can understand English."

Independent councillor Randal McDonnell said: "Is there nothing useful we can talk about?"

Faoi Dheireadh Thiar

…de la Galway Advertiser:

He is the man in the shop in Ros na Rún on TG 4 — Peadar. In the telephone book he adds after his name that he is a plasterer. He is all of that. And last week he won the overall Galway County Council Arts Award.

These awards come under the umbrella of the arts section of Galway County Council. They could not have chosen a more worthy winner than Joe Steve Ó Neachtain from Cré Dhubh in Spiddal...

… all the more credit to him for his latest play which has brought “rave” reviews — from the people of his native Connemara and far further afield. It is called Faoi Dheireadh Thiar.
Roughly translated that means ‘At the Very End’, or maybe ‘At Journey’s End’. It is set in a nursing home late into Christmas Eve. There are many comical events that take place but the play itself is a poignant reminder of how youth and independence can ebb away… and the reactions of country people to the ebb and flow of life on that Christmas Eve.

Dulingva Entrepreno

...de la Western Mail:

Bilingualism has always been Elfen’s policy from its formation. This has contributed significantly to the company’s growth over the last 10 years and will continue to form a key part of its success in the future.

We also appreciate that the bilingual service forms one element of delivering effective and creative client solutions which can be a source of competitive advantage in an increasingly competitive industry.

By employing a fully bilingual approach to all its branded material, Elfen have been able to reinforce this key element of its brand identity – one of a Welsh company offering a bilingual service.

What reasons are behind your decision to operate bilingually?...

What do you do bilingually?...

Do you feel that your organisation is recognised for its bilingual service and bilingual ethos?...

In your opinion, how has your use of bilingualism helped to give your business a competitive advantage?...

Barr 50 Gnó as Gaeilge 2008

…de la blogo, From the Balcony, de Máirtín Ó Muilleoir:

There's some biggies on the Barr 50 Gnó as Gaeilge this year including Wikipeida (which boasts an Irish Viclipéid), Apple and Cognotec (the world's greatest supplier of software to the financial sector created by Jewish Dublin Gaeilgeoir Brian Maccaba).

And there's also space for our great film-maker Anne Stirling, whose company produced the exciting teenage soap filmed at Queen's University, Seacht, jewellery genius Brian de Staic and our very own Tony McCusker of the Gaeltacht Quarter Board.

The award winners from the 50 will be announced at a gala luncheon in Dublin's palatial Four Seasons Hotel on Friday but you can get a sneak preview at the magazine honouring the fab fifty here.

Respondo al Jean-Luc Mélenchon

...de la blogo de Jean-Jacques Urvoas:

Dans cette subtilité qui n’appartient qu’à lui, et qu’heureusement personne ne songe à lui disputer, il vient d’émettre un jugement à l’emporte-pièce dont il est certes coutumier, mais qui ne le rend pas pour autant recevable.

« La langue bretonne, a-t-il assené est celle qui résulte du dictionnaire dit unifié de 1942, qui se substitue aux cinq langues bretonnes existantes. » Il s’ensuit fort logiquement à ses yeux que le breton dont il est aujourd’hui fait usage dans la région est la langue de la « collaboration », et que les écoles qui l’enseignent, à l’instar de Diwan, sont des « sectes »…

Que répondre à ce tissu d’insanités sinon que ce petit monsieur, à dessein ou non, confond langues et dialectes, que le breton unifié n’a pas plus de raison d’être marqué au fer rouge de la collaboration que la fête des mères, instituée par le maréchal Pétain en mai 1941, et que si les écoles Diwan devaient être qualifiées de sectes, ce seraient bien les premières qui n’honoreraient ni idole, ni gourou.

Ces propos diffamatoires n’engagent évidemment que lui, et démontrent à nouveau, l’irrationalité d’une idéologie nationaliste qui, d’où qu’elle vienne, mérite d’être condamnée sans détours. Je regrette qu’il ne se soit pas trouvé une voix socialiste, par exemple, bretonne pour lui répondre...

An Furv Skrifys Savonek!

....de Cornwall 24:

Members of the Cornish Language Partnership have voted to ratify the Standard Written Form of the language for use in education and public life after almost two years of work.

For more than twenty years, Cornish has worked with four different spellings -a testament to the dedication, research and diversity in the language community and something which it has in common with many small languages. However, the increasing use of , and demand, for the language meant that a standard for official use became a necessity.

The Partnership, therefore, put in place a process which harnessed knowledge both from within the Cornish language community and from experts from other language communities in order to look at the future.

The result is a standard form which draws on the forms already in existence. This means that users of any form will find much that is familiar, alongside some differences. Users who wish to carry on with their preferred form in personal use, will, of course, do so, but all official documentation will use the Standard form.

Seirbhís Póilíneachta Thuaisceart Éireann

...de la Derry Journal:

Irish language classes for police officers are being held weekly at Limavady PSNI station, the 'Journal' can reveal.

The two-hour classes are held each Wednesday, between 7-9pm.

Limavady Insp. Tony Callaghan said the classes are being held for police officers across the region and are hosted at the Limavady station because a conference room, which is used as a classroom, is available. He also said the initiative was happening in other areas.

Mr. Callaghan did not have a figure as to how many officers were taking the class.

Limavady Sinn Fein Colr. Cathal OhOisin said he felt it was important police officers were able to speak Irish because there were several Irish language schools in the area, referring to the importance of delivering the "Stranger Danger" message to schoolchildren.

Interkeltaj Afrankoj

...de Isle of Man Today:

Interceltique stamps promoting the Manx language and the Isle of Man being the centre of the Celtic world were launched last week.

Isle of Man Post Office celebrated the launch with a presentation to a delegate for the world's largest Celtic festival, Festival Interceltique de Lorient in Brittany, taking place in August.

Scoill Phurt Le Moirrey teacher Aalish Maddrell and her class received a collection of Interceltique products, including a framed first day cover, presentation packs and posters….

… The stamps celebrate the Celtic languages of Kernow, Mannin, Alba, Breizh, Eire, Asturies, Cymru and Galicia.

Isle of Man Post Office will be attending the Interceltique Lorient Festival for the first time this year.

Ár bhFís Féin

......... le buíochas do na Ceithearna Coille, Craobh Nua Eabhrac

.

.

...as Lá Nua:
.

Ní thig a shéanadh ach go bhfuil fás iontach tagtha ar an Ghaeilge i dTuaisceart Mheiriceá le blianta beaga anuas.

Bhí riamh gean ag Gaeil Mheiriceá agus Meiriceánaigh Éireannacha ar an tír dhúchais agus, dá bharr sin, ar an teanga dhúchais.

D’aithin cuid mhór daoine a chuaigh ar na báid bhána agus ar na heitleáin imirce, gur iompair siad ní amháin dornán beag ithreach ón mháthair-thír ina bpócaí, ach gur iompair siad chomh maith, ina n-aigne, an tÉireannachas.

Go minic, chuir siad seo in iúl tríd an teanga a choinneáil, nó ar a laghad, a mhúnlú tríd an teanga a bhí á tógáil acu, an Béarla.

Tá cur síos ag an scríbhneoir Daniel Cassidy ina leabhar, How the Irish Invented Slang: The Secret Language of the Crossroads, ar an tionchar seo.

Anois, tá daoine, Gael-Mheiriceánaigh agus Meiriceánaigh Éireannacha i mbun athbheochana thall, agus iad ina n-ábhar spreagtha dúinne in Éirinn, agus ina dtuar dóchais dúinne ar mhian linn an Ghaeilge a neartú sa bhaile agus sna Gaeltachtaí.

An deireadh seachtaine seo, beidh mórchomhdháil ar siúl i Nua-Eabhrac chun pobail fhorbartha na Gaeilge a thabhairt le chéile agus a chur in aithne dá chéile, ó dhá bhruach an Aigéin Atlantaigh.

Sa lá atá inniu ann, níl san aigéan sin ach lochán beag, agus an Ghaeilge beo beathach ar an dá thaobh de.

Ní neart go cur le chéile, agus is cinnte gur fearrde muid ag comhoibriú, agus gur láidre an tarraingt ar an rópa nuair atá gach duine ag tarraingt sa treo amháin.

Caithfidh muidne anseo in Éirinn glacadh leis go bhfuil neart le foghlaim againn as taithí na ndeartháireacha agus na ndeirfiúracha thall, agus is iontach an deis é seo, ag an chomhdháil seo, an taithí a roinnt agus an saibhreas taithí atá ag lucht gníomhaithe teanga a roinnt chomh maith.

Fís Ghaeilge Mheiriceá Thuaidh

...de la Irish Voice:

On May 17 and 18, the Affinia Hotel on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan will become a haven for Gaelic language speakers who will attend an Irish language conference organized by Glór na nGael in an effort to promote the language in North America and Canada.

The conference, titled “Fís Ghaeilge Mheiriceá Thuaidh” (Irish Language Vision for North America), is open to all Irish speakers across the continent.

Inviting people to attend the event, Lorcán Mac Gabhann, Glór na nGael’s director, explained, “This conference is the first of its kind ever to be held on the North American continent and it is hoped that as many people interested in promoting the Irish language in the U.S. and Canada will attend.

“It will give Irish groups in the United States and in Canada a opportunity to discuss their future along with Irish language voluntary and statutory organizations from Ireland.”

Development officer with Glór na nGael, Daragh Ó Tuama added, “What we are trying to do is firstly promote partnership between us and the various groups in America offering them more help and support and it will also be great for us here to know what is going on over.”

Another aspect of the conference will include looking at the possibility of making available in America a certificate in the Irish language that is recognizable in Europe. “The person who designed this course will also speak at the conference which is a huge honor for us how it works out,” said Ó Tuama.

PLEAN 2008

...de An Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe, agus Gaeltachta:

Líon amach ár gCeistneoir Ar-Líne le do thoil agus cabhraigh linn an plean straitéiseach is fearr a chur le chéile don Ghaeilge.

Ní gá an ceistneoir iomlán a líonadh isteach, tá fáilte romhat na ranna agus ceisteanna gur mhaith leat a fhreagairt a phiocadh amach.

Cliceáil ar theideal chun na ceisteanna a bhaineann leis an gcuid sin a fheiceáil.

Má dhéanann tú cliceáil arís ar an teideal céanna, cuirtear na ceisteanna a bhaineann leis an gcuid sin i bhfolach arís ach fanann na freagraí atá tugtha agat....

Bretonalingvo en Bonaero

…de Le Petit Journal:

Aujourd’hui Alain transmet sa passion pour la langue bretonne, notamment à son fils qui parle l’espagnol, le français et balbutie quelques mots de breton. Il donne aussi des cours aux plus motivés car la langue bretonne est une langue très complexe.

"Le breton exprime un monde différent, il existe cinq verbes être en breton, deux en espagnol, un seul en français, la sensation de l'être peut donc avoir cinq formes. Pour apprendre le breton il faut déstructurer sa pensée, oublier l’ordre des mots, sujet, verbe, complément.

En breton on parle d’énonciatif hiérarchique, l’ordre des mots dépend donc de l’importance que l’on veut leur donner. L’objectif d’Alain est de faire perdurer cette langue qui a été interdite par un décret en 1902. A l'école si les élèves étaient surpris en train de parler breton on leur mettait un caillou dans la bouche et on leur faisait répéter je ne dois pas parler breton.

"Sous la génération de nos grands parents tout le monde parlait breton, nos parents le comprenaient que très peu et nous on n'en comprend que quelques mots qu'il nous reste de notre enfance."