Sir, - Beatha agus slainte! In The Empire writes back (August 10th), Declan Kiberd alludes to such writers as Chinua Achebe who admitted to abandoning his mother tongue in favour of English. It would be highly instructive were Prof Kiberd to interview writers who find themselves in this sad predicament, enquiring of their gains and losses.
If I were to say: "He became all confused" in Irish, it would be: "Dhubhaigh is dhearg aige." Immediately I see a black colour and then a red colour. Do you see? If I were to describe an escalator, my definition would be "staighre beo", a living stairway. I can see it! The bumper-to-bumper phenomenon is "sron muice le toin muice", a pig's nose to a pig's bum. Not only can I see it, I'm amused.
As English invades my life, more and more, I seem to see less - and I am definitely not amused! - Is mise,
Gabriel Rosenstock, Gleann na gCaorach, Co Atha Cliath.