LANGUAGE REVIVAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 130, 3 June 1937, Page 18

LANGUAGE REVIVAL.

FUTURE OF IRISH. CONTRADICTORY ELEMENTS. ENTHUSIASM OUTRUNS PERFORMANCE. DUBLIN. The future of the Irish language is a subject of perpetual controversy in this country, ami periodically it comes up for discussion in the Dail. Recently there has been widespread agitation for action looking toward a broader use of the native tongue. On the broad question of the desirability of reviving the language there i* hardly any difference of opinion, but as to the method to he adopted an.l the speed which some enthusiasts wi-.li to put it into practical operation tlieie is continual disagreement. Realists \v*io tliink in terms of material progress will admit privately that as a means of making a career in the commercial world a knowledge of the Irish- language is not worth the trouble of acquiring since it is not the language of commerce in this or any other country. But when the slogan "no language, no nation" is shouted into their ears, they become enthusiastic, and if they cannot learn the language themselves, they do the next best thing, as they see it—■ require that their children be taught it. Most Irishmen subscribe to the claim that Ireland is not alone a nation but one of the oldest in the world, and a mother country to millions of people scattered over the earth. They argue that if it is necessary, in order to prove this, that it should have a language, then llie language should be restored. When it is asserted that the school programme is already sufficiently weighted with subjects and that Irish is an added burden without any additional material advantage, the enthusiasts say "substitute it for one of the other subjects which is perhaps equally unprofitable except as an exercise in mental gymnastics." The force of the reply has to be admitted. Only "Pigin Irish." Frank MacDermot, independent member of the Dial, recently called for a reconsideration and rationalisation of the methods adopted for the preservation and development of the language, and in doing so concentrated on the neglect of Irish scholarship and of classical Irish in secondary schools and universities. His view was that in order to get a thorough grip of the language it should lie studied as Latin, French, and German are studied, and thus enable students to appreciate Irish literature. At present the children are confined purely to colloquial Irish, he said, with the result that they leave school with only a smattering of "pigin Irish." MacDermot complained that the teachers do not have the proper qualifications for teaching Irish. Another grievance in regard to the method of teaching the language is that in recent times, with a view to forcing it on the rising generation, the children entering schools have been required to begin their most elementary studies in the native language. This would not be so bad if there were an opportunity of practicing the use of words in the school or in the home, but this is not possible since the exclusive means of communication in both school and home is English. There is no means of escape, as all schools which depend on Covernment grants must conform to this plan. What may be called the ordinary literary subjects are comparatively easy, but it is when the youngsters come to arithmetic, algebra and geometry that they feel the real difficulties.

English Speak: ag Dail. The case of the teacher is hardly less embarrassing, inasmuch as most of them have learned these subjects through the medium of English. In the teaching profession there is a disposition to question the effectiveness of the scheme and to ask for relief from the element of compulsion. This is n.>t likely to be granted because the Government is determined to make the language the spoken medium for the whole country. There is an element of contradiction about this, observers say. for it is well known that Government officials as. a rule are poorly equipped in the language. Occasionally some of them endeavour to make a show of their ability in this respect, but there are few members of the House who are capable of understanding. It is estimated that of the 153 members of the l);iil not more than 20 would understand simple Irish. About half a dozen could debate any subject in the language. Anyway, speeches in Irish are given little attention in newspapers. During the last session of the Dail two or three Ministers attempted *o introduce Departmental estimates in Irish, but they took the precaution of sending a translation of their remarks to the Leaders of the Opposition. The result was anything but satisfactory, and in any case the siilisequent debates were carried on in English.