“Nollick Ghennal!”

…de Isle of Man Today:

Manx language officer Adrian Cain has teamed up with the Examiner to help out with festive greetings in Manx.

Bannaghtyn y Nollick Seasonal Greetings

Nollick Ghennal Happy Christmas

Nollick Ghennal as Blein Vie Noa Happy Christmas and a Good New Year

Bannaghtyn Blessings/greetings

Lesh yeearreeyn share With best wishes

Lesh yeearreeyn share son y Nollick as y Vlein Noa With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year

Lesh yeearreeyn share ec yn imbagh casherick shoh With best wishes at this holy season

Shee as Boggey erriu Peace and joy to you

Lesh Shee as Graih With peace and love

Hee'm oo 'sy vlein noa See you in the New Year

Shee erriu car ny bleeaney shoh çheet Peace to you throughout the coming year…

* Bildo de Ynsee Gaelg.

Vespero kun Máirtín Ó Muilleoir

Tuilleadh eolais / Pliaj informoj
.

“Jim Biogóideach Mac Allasdar”

….de la blogo iGaeilge, de Concubhar Ó Liatháin:

Dar le Jim Allister, polaiteooir atá ina cheannaire ar an nGuth Thraidisiúnta Aondachtach, tá airgead á chur amú ar an Ghaelscoileanna ar an mBaile Meanach a fhéadfaí bheith á chaitheamh ar mhaoiniú scoileanna do pháistí le riachtanais speisialta.

Ar ndóigh, níl tuismitheoir ar bith le páíste ag freastal ar Ghaelscoil a shéanfadh maoiniú ar pháiste le riachtanas speisialta. Tá páistí acu le riachtanais speisialta an oiread is atá ag tuismitheoirí eile nach seolann a bpáistí chuig Gaelscoileanna agus tá an seirbhís atá á fháil acu chomh h-olc nó níos measa ná na scoileanna Béarla.

Ach seo chugainn Jim Biogóideach Mac Allasdar agus é ag iarraidh a chur ina luí nár cheart tacú le Gaeloidachas mar, dar leis, is caitheamh aimsire atá ann.

Is dócha go gcreideann sé go bhfuil sé ar thalamh slán agus é ag labhairt ar son páistí le h-uathachas agus riachtanais speisialta eile agus ag íonsaí na Gaeilge…

Osian Liberigita!

…de la Daily Post:

A language campaigner yesterday called on new First Minister Carwyn Jones to write a new Welsh language act.

Osian Jones, Cymdeithas yr Iaith organiser for North Wales, made the call on his return home after his release from Altcourse prison in Liverpool.

The 32-year-old has spent the last two weeks behind bars after refusing to pay fines and compensation for painting slogans on high street superstores.

The action was part of Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s campaign for a comprehensive Welsh Language Act to include the private sector.

Mr Jones, from Llanllyfni, near Caernarfon, had painted “Ble Mae’r Gymraeg?” (Where is the Welsh?) on stores in Llangefni, Bangor and Caernarfon in June.

Yesterday he insisted the Welsh language Legislative Competency Order, currently going through its Parliamentary process, needs to be strengthened.

He said: “I hope my actions will mark the start of a new exciting period in the history of Cymdeithas yr Iaith.

“The future of Welsh hangs in the balance because too many politicians don’t take it seriously. Despite the overwhelming support, the next decade could see Welsh destroyed because of the indifference and failures of politicians, multinational businesses, and the Welsh establishment...

“Triumfa Filistreco”?

…de Irish Independent:

From last Friday, all new housing developments in Dublin, by law, must be named solely in Irish. Dublin City Council, which in a decade of persistent and triumphant philistinism has undone so much of the history of the city, is now reaching its triumphant apogee: we can now pretend the capital is Irish-speaking by naming places in Irish.

This will change nothing, any more than awarding swimming badges to concrete blocks turns them into butterfly champions, but it does give the appearance of Baile Atha Cliath being Gaeilge agus Saor, Saor agus Gaeilge: and are appearances not the essence of modern Ireland?

Eight years ago, the city council abolished the name Dublin Corporation. This had been the legal name of the governing body of the capital city since 1601, but it had been the informal name of the city government since the Middle Ages. At the same time, ancient terms like 'alderman' and 'town clerk', were removed from the lexicon of the city council.

…The real underlying purpose is to make yet another genuflection towards the enduring white elephant of language restoration: for has not a legalistic veneration of the language been one of the primary default modes of Irish independence, no matter how worthless and unproductive such veneration has always been?

Dominic Bradley

…de 4NI:

The Stormont Culture Minister has been challenged over the promotion of the Irish language. The SDLP's party spokesperson on Gaelic, Dominic Bradley, has welcomed the commitment to Irish language legislation across Northern Ireland contained in the Irish Republic's new 20 Year Strategy for the language.

The SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh said that he has forwarded it to the Stormont Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister Nelson McCausland, for his attention and questioned the Minister's commitment to its promotion.

Commenting on this aspect of the strategy, Mr Bradley said: "The SDLP very much welcomes the Irish government's continuing commitment to the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and support for Foras na Gaeilge, the North/South implementation body charged with promoting the language on an all-island basis, to ensure its continued effective operation. "I very much hope that the strategy will have a beneficial impact on speakers of the Irish language in Northern Ireland...

CLG, Irlandalingva Centro kaj Respublikismo

...de la blogo, The Minister’s Pen, de Nelson Mc Causland, MLA:

On Sunday 6 December there was a series of events in Londonderry to mark the 25th anniversary of the deaths of four IRA men.

On 2 December 1984 Ciaran Fleming and Anthony MacBride, who was a member of the Irish Army as well as the IRA, planted a landmine near Kesh in county Fermanagh. A hoax call was made to lure the British Army into the area and three armed IRA terrorists lay in wait but the mine failed to explode and MacBride was shot by the SAS. Another IRA member, Ciaran Fleming, drowned in the Bannagh River while trying to escape.

Two more IRA men, Willie Fleming and Danny Doherty, were shot on 6 December 1984 by the SAS as they were going into the grounds of Gransha Psychiatric Hospital in Londonderry, where they planned to murder an off-duty member of the UDR….
….
Once again various forms of Gaelic culture have been aligned with militant Irish republicanism. The main county GAA pitch, which is owned by the Derry County Board, was used to host a Gaelic football match commemorating four IRA men and a new Irish language centre was the location for a commemorative lecture and exhibition. Is it any wonder that unionists do not feel any affinity with either the Irish language or the GAA?

Mannin Aboo!

….de Isle of Man Today:

Nationalist feeling seems to be growing in the Isle of Man in the wake of the VAT crisis.

A Facebook page has been set up to press the case for Manx independence.

Mannin Aboo has attracted about 300 members since its launch earlier this month.

The creator of the site goes under the name of Manannan Mac Leirr who asks: 'Should the Isle of Man be an independent Nation again as it once was. Join if you agree. The Isle of Man forever — Mannin Aboo.

'Meanwhile, nationalist banners have been posted on roadsigns and graffiti sprayed across the roads on the main routes into Peel.All read Mannin Seyr, which means 'Manx independence'. Signs written in Manx Gaelic were also posted on flagpoles in the town….

…Founder of the Manx nationalist party Mec Vannin Bernard Moffatt said there appeared to be a growing number of young people in the Isle of Man getting involved with the Manx language and nationalism…

Eurospar

…de la Daily Post:

A customer claimed she was “mimicked” by a checkout girl when she asked her a question in Welsh.

Bosses at Eurospar, Blaenau Ffestiniog have apologised to Fflur Medi Owen, 26, and Elen Gwynne, 29, both actresses with Cwmni’r Frân Wen after the incident.

The women were performing at Ysgol y Moelwyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog and had gone to the supermarket in their lunch break last Friday.

Fflur, from Dinas, Caernarfon, said: “Elen asked the till assistant a question in Welsh – bearing in mind that Blaenau is one of the towns where the Welsh language and culture is at its purest – when we were devastatingly greeted with a stare of disgust.

“Elen then proceeded to check with her twice – again in Welsh – whether or not she understood (“Sori, Yda chi'n siarad Cymraeg?”). We were still stared at as though we had four heads between us, after which she then mimicked the sounds back to us in a very spiteful way, and still continued her hard stare.”

Elen, from Caernarfon, said: “I asked her if they sold any plastic cutlery before asking if she spoke Welsh.

“She mimicked what I had asked her in a racist way. I’m sure it wasn’t the first time she had heard Welsh being spoken. She just stared at me. I couldn’t believe it. I felt like I’d done something wrong when I left the shop.”…

“Insular”

…de la Irish Times:

A young graphic designer has crafted a new, contemporary Gaelic typography for use in Irish language publications, websites and signage.

Described as "uncomplicated and modern" by creator Naoise Ó Conchubhair, the new type is about finding a "a new visual voice for the country".

Called Insular, a reference to the style of script used in the Book of Kells , the typeface is in no way romantic about the language or culture, he says.

He explains the decision to develop the type by saying: "There are always new reasons for type design, particularly with the development of the screen or web."

The work grew out of a college project while Ó Conchubhair was studying Visual Communication at the National College of Art and Design.

While Ó Conchubhair is working as a graphic designer, he plans to submit the new type to A Typel, a typographic conference being held in Dublin next year...

"Kial mi estas en ĉelo?"

…de la Western Mail:

…For those who denounce my crime, they should remember that almost a century ago a group of ordinary people came together to protest in a similar way. They used tactics like hunger-strikes, window-smashing and demonstrations. One woman died throwing herself under the King’s horse. They broke the law because women didn’t have the vote. Without the non-violent, direct action of the Suffragettes, women would not have had the right to vote in 1918.

I believe that everyone in Wales should have the right to see, hear and use the Welsh language – I want it to live and thrive. It’s a view shared by the vast majority of the public; a view summed up well in a recent Western Mail editorial: “We are blessed that Welsh is not the language only of academics and folk enthusiasts, but is shouted by sportsmen and whispered by lovers.”

Yes, there is a genuine love of the language. It can be seen everywhere around us, from the large numbers of people learning to the singing at rugby matches. So, shouldn’t everyone have the right to use it in their everyday lives? Isn’t that something everyone is working towards?

Unfortunately not. We have a system of law that takes the opposite view: it chooses profit over the Welsh language’s future.

The world’s most profitable companies can open a shop in the middle of a predominantly Welsh- speaking community and refuse to provide basic bilingual services. And despite our campaigns, these corporations continue to ignore not just the rights of Welsh speakers but also the vast majority of the public, 80% of whom want bilingual signage and marketing along with training for people to speak Welsh.

But still, I am the one in the dock, I am the one in prison, I sit in the cell – not the chief executives of the supermarkets, banks or major retailers….

* CYFEIRIAD/ADRESO:
..Osian Jones,
..Rhif / No. DX8265,
..HM Prison Altcourse,
..Fazakerley,
..Lerpwl, L97 LH
..Lloegr (UK)

Críona Ní Dhálaigh

…de Sinn Féin:

Glacadh le rún ag Comhairle Bhalie Átha Cliath aréir, molta ag Comhairleoir Sinn Féin Críona Ní Dhálaigh, ag cinntiú go mbeidh ainmneacha Gaeilge ar eastáit tithíochta nua agus go mbaineann na hainmneacha le stair and béaloideas áitiúil.

Dúirt an Clr. Ní Dhálaigh:

"Tá áthas orm gur glacadh leis an rún seo mar is céim chun tosaigh é do athbheochan na teanga sa chathair seo. Beidh comhairleoirí Sinn Féin ag moladh a leithéid de rún ar comhairlí ar fud an Stáit agus tá súil agam go nglacfar leo chomh maith.

"Déanann an rún seo a chinntiú go mbeidh eastáit tithíochata i mBaile Átha Cliath ainmnithe i nGaeilge le ainmneacha a bhaineann le stair agus béaloideas náisiúnta, in ionad an chórais ainmniúchán ad hoc a bhí ann."

Mary’s Gift

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

Minister of Culture Nelson McCausland has turned his not inconsiderable linguistic focus to the comments of leading Irish American Mike Breen who recently launched Mary's Gift to help fund Irish schools here.

You can read the Minister's full comments here — apparently Mike's name came up on the ministerial radio because he referred to Pádraig Pearse as a "patriot". Who would ever have thought?

"Here once again we see the influence of Irish republicanism on the Irish language movement." Amazing stuff. Nelson's just copped on that Pádraig Pearse is effectively the father of the entire Irish language revival...

Robyn Llyn por Kimralingva Akto

…de la Caernarfon Denbigh Herald:

That Osian Jones* has been sent to prison saddened me greatly. He was sentenced to 28 days for refusing to pay fines and costs totalling £1,120, imposed after he had painted pro-Welsh slogans on two English-based chain-stores in Bangor.

It appears that this was the longest sentence imposed on a Cymdeithas yr Iaith member since 1991, eighteen years ago. The first (of some hundreds, since) was Geraint Jones of Trefor, also sent down for a month as far back as 1966.

The law treated Osian Jones just as if he had been caught shoplifting, or some other offence involving dishonesty or violence.

Having been a lawyer for the whole of my adult life, I naturally have a great respect for the law and the courts. But I am equally aware of the law’s many failings.

Anyone who has the slightest knowledge of history will be aware that many worthy movements have only succeeded in their aims by campaigns of law-breaking, aimed at recalcitrant legislators who stubbornly refuse to right injustices. The protest movements won in the end, but only after much needless sacrifice and suffering.

Examples are legion: take the trade-union movement and the enfranchisement of black people in the United States and South Africa, where the names of Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela are shining examples of those who suffered for elementary human rights. And, nearer home, the Suffragettes, many thousands of whom went to prison to secure votes for women.

One hundred years ago, the law would have been handing out a sentence of 28 days to some wretched female, who had transgressed merely because she felt women were entitled to the right to vote. That too, was lawful in its day. But it proves that our law does not cater for unjust and imperfect situations.

The remedy for this country is a new Welsh Language Act: Wales badly needs it - now!

.

* CYFEIRIAD/ADRESO:

..Osian Jones

..Rhif / No. DX8265,..

..HM Prison Altcourse,

..Fazakerley,

..Lerpwl, L97 LH

..Lloegr (UK)

Cornell Universitato

…de la Cornell Sun:

Cornell prides itself on its diverse course offerings, particularly of rare languages. Seriously, it even has a masturbatory brochure about all of the different language courses it offers and how important they are. I thought about quoting verbatim from the brochure, but the basic idea is that language is important and makes Cornell students better academics and more broad-minded and important in the workforce. And how Cornell is awesome because of all these cool, rare languages that they teach.

A few examples: Irish (I mean, I’m Irish, and I didn’t even know that there was an Irish language), Tagalog, Khmer, Ugaritic, Yoruba and Quechua. Bonus points if you can name the countries where two of those are (or once were) spoken. And Irish doesn’t count...

Kornvala Nacio Malakceptita por 2011 Censo

...de la BBC:

MPs have rejected a bid to allow people to list their nationality as "Cornish" on the 2011 census.

Cornwall North's MP Dan Rogerson had put forward the proposal as MPs debated the Draft Census Order 2009 for England and Wales.

A Facebook campaign Cornish Tickbox for the 2011 Census has been backed by Mr Rogerson and more than 3,000 people.

But as MPs rejected it by 261 votes to 49, they approved questions the Tories say amount to "bedroom snooping".

The government says the issue of Cornish language and identity was "considered" by the Office for National Statistics but was "not included in the proposals for the 2011 census"...