Irish Language: I love the way Rosie slips it in now and again - discretely, like a married man having an affair. Just enough to keep it interesting but without rising suspicion. No, I don’t know what I meant by that either.
...says Primal, here. He's right, I don't often write in Irish. I'm much more fluent in English, I have a better vocabulary, better grammar. I was brought up speaking English (although I was educated through Irish, from playschool onwards) therefore most of my clever colloquialisms are in English rather than in Irish and they're what make for rich prose. I invent words and phrases in English which I wouldn't dare to do in Irish, for I'd certainly get the grammar wrong. I'm studying at the moment in an effort to rid myself of these insecurities about my grammar, once I'm done I might write the Great Irish Novel. Til then, I'll carry on as I am.
Catherine mentioned the other day that she'd nominated me for my use of Irish in the blog, and I answered her honestly as I don't think I deserve an award for it at all -
i tend to only use it when i'm writing something i don't want everyone to be able to read
What a damning statement. Annie replied -
I think "secret language code" is probably the best use of Irish these days anyway. That and "looking cool in front of foreigners".
Most people would agree, I suppose. I've certainly used Irish for those purposes on the blog - I don't like private postings on blogs and this is a way for me to get around them. From time to time I write in Irish just because it feels more natural for my subject or because the events I'm describing happened when we were speaking in Irish. Ego has something to do with my choice of language too, I have to admit that I don't write the blog just for me, it's a matter of some pride that I have people who actually read this. I'm sure I wouldn't have the same readership were I prattling on in Irish, a fact I don't like one bit but which is nonetheless true. I simply don't have The Major's patience to publish everything bilingually.
