Sir - For some years now letters and articles on aspects of the growing multi-cultural, multi-ethnic nature of Irish society have appeared in The Irish Times. Most writers have expressed joy at this development. However, it is remarkable that almost none of the contributors make specific reference to multilingualism.
Mr David Trimble has been widely criticised for suggesting that the Republic of Ireland is in fact a (pathetic) mono-cultural, mono-ethnic State. In so far as he can be understood to have referred to the State apparatus, he is largely correct. It is not possible to transact business completely, quickly and efficiently with State departments without having recourse to English.
There are now over 90 languages which are the first languages of children attending primary schools in the Republic of Ireland. We welcome immigrants representing 150 nationalities to the Republic every year. It is likely that there are more speakers of a number of African and Eastern European languages that there are speakers of Irish in the official Gaeltacht. There are multi-lingual immigrants whose languages include English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese - to mention some of the languages that IBEC and others have been urging us to acquire.
How disappointing that we have not even begun to realise this enormous linguistic richness which our immigrants have brought to us. When will our universities establish faculties for the study of these languages and the cultures and civilisations which they reflect? What long-term strategy is being proposed for the maintenance of this lingual competency in the home and for its strengthening at pre-school, primary, secondary and third levels? When will this linguistic variety be reflected in the written and electronic media?
The question of languages in Ireland is a most exciting one. It is a disappointment that those who seek the promotion of the Irish language or Ulster Scots, or who preach anti-racism, have not yet drawn attention to the growing multilingualism of Irish society and made linguistic common cause with our new multilingual immigrants. - Yours, etc.,
Ciarβn ╙ Coigligh, St Patrick's College of Education, Dublin City University, Dublin 9.