A chara, – Prof Orla Muldoon is quoted in the Health Supplement (March 31st) as stating (in relation to the State’s attempt to protect the Irish language) that “A language is about communication and about being able to communicate effectively – but a language that one can only speak to some people, and which excludes others, is by definition exclusive”.
This point is an important one. My family and I were victims of such linguistic exclusion on a recent trip to Portugal, not only in our spoken interactions, but even more bizarrely in the road signage.
Indeed my son found he had to resort to such reduced forms of communication as soccer and tennis in order to be take his part in the linguistic community.
I have heard rumours that such linguistically exclusive practices are rampant across the EU, including, I understand, Brussels itself. Clearly, urgent action is needed, – Is mise,
MARTINE Nic GABHANN,
Lakelands Grove,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.