An Ghaeilge - Studyclix Sample aiste/newspaper

Introduction

Is duine óg mé in Éirinn (I am a young person in Ireland) atá ag déanamh Scrúdú na hArdteiste i mbliana (doing the Leaving Certificate Examinations this year).

Nílim ach ocht mbliana déag d’aois (I’m only eighteen years old) ach in ainneoin sin (but despite that), ceapaim go bhfuilim  lánábalta labhairt faoin ábhar thuas (I think I’m well able to speak about the above topic). 

Bíonn an Ghaeilge pléite agus athphléite (discussed and discussed again) ag polaiteoirí, ag iriseoirí agus ag saineolaithe (by politicians, journalists and experts).

Is annamh a théann lá tharainn (hardly a day passes us by) nach mbíonn ceannlíne (where there isn’t a headline) faoi chúrsaí Gaeilge (about Irish language matters) ar an nuacht (on the news).

Tá fadhbanna bainteach leis an teanga freisin, áfach (there are problems regarding the language, however). Deir go leor daoine (plenty of people say) go bhfuil an teanga i mbaol a bháis (in danger of dying out).

San aiste seo, pléifidh mé (I will discuss) na rudaí suntasacha (the notable bits) a bhaineann léi: stair na Gaeilge (the history of the Irish language), staid na Gaeilge faoi láthair (the state of the Irish language at the moment) agus todhchaí na Gaeilge (and the future of Irish), chomh maith leis an gcultúr Gaelach (as well as the Irish culture).

Stair na Gaeilge

Ar an gcéad dul síos (firstly), chun na Gaeilge a thuiscint mar atá sí anois (to understand Irish as it is now), caithfimid breathnú siar (we have to look back) ar an nGaeilge san am a chuaigh thart (in times gone by).

Labhraíodh an Ghaeilge amháin in Éirinn (only Irish was spoken in Ireland) sula rabhamar faoi riail na Breataine  (before we were under British rule).

Tháinig meath ollmhór (huge decline) ar an teanga ó shin i léith (ever since).

Formhór an ama (most of the time), chun airgead a thuilleadh (to earn money) agus post a bheith agat (to have a job), bhí an Béarla riachtanach, in ionad na Gaeilge (English was necessary, instead of Irish).

Cuireadh an Ghaeilge ar leataobh mar sin (the Irish language was therefore put to one side).

I ndiaidh an Ghorta Mhóir ach go háirithe (in particular after the Great Famine), ní raibh mórán cainteoirí dúchasacha fágtha (there weren’t many native speakers left) mar gheall ar an eisimirce go tíortha eile (because of emigration to other countries).

Scaipeadh an Béarla ar fud na háite sa tír seo (English became widespread all over the country) mar bhí nasc (link) idir an mBéarla agus saibhreas (wealth).

Ar an lámh eile, bhain an Ghaeilge amháin leis an mbochtanas (poverty) agus caighdeán íseal maireachtála (a low standard of living).

Is léir go bhfuil stair chorraitheach chasta (eventful and complicated) ag an nGaeilge.

An Ghaeilge Anois

An cheist is tábhachtaí (most important question) anois ná, conas atá ag éirí le teanga na Gaeilge san 21ú aois (how is the Irish language in the twenty-first century)?

Is ceist achrannach (difficult) í seo, gan amhras (without a doubt).

I mo thuairim (in my opinion), tá an Ghaeilge ag dul ó neart go neart (going from strength to strength) lá i ndiaidh lae (day after day).

Sa daonáireamh (the census) a rinneadh sa tír seo (that was done in this country) in dhá mhíle, fiche a dó , dúirt daichead faoin gcéad (forty percent) den daonra Éireannach (of the Irish population) go raibh Gaeilge acu.

Chomh maith leis sin, bíonn éileamh dochreidte (an unbelievable demand) ar ranganna Gaeilge agus tá sé ag éirí níos deacra (it’s becoming more difficult) iad a chur in áirithe (to book them) toisc go bhfuil siad díolta amach go minic (often sold out).

Tá sé mar an gcéanna (it’s the same) sna coláistí Samhraidh atá lonnaithe sna ceantair Ghaeltachta (that are located in the Gaeltacht areas): gach Samhradh, téann sluaite móra déagóirí (huge crowds of teenagers) go dtí an nGaeltacht chun an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim (to learn).

Beatha teanga í a labhairt, mar a deir an seanfhocal (as the proverb says).

Lena chois sin (as well as that), bhí rath (success) ar scannáin Ghaeilge a foilsíodh le déanaí (Irish language films released recently had success), ‘An Cailín Ciúin’ agus ‘Arracht’, gan ach cúpla a lua (to mention but a few).

Ní féidir a shéanadh (you cannot deny) go bhfuil daoine fiosrach (curious) faoinár dteanga álainn (about our beautiful language) agus na nithe cultúrtha (the cultural bits) a thagann léi: rince Gaelach (Irish dancing) agus ceol traidisiúnta (trad music) gan ach cúpla a lua (to name but a few)!

An Ghaeilge agus Scoil

Níl an Ghaeilge lánsábháilte go fóill (Irish isn’t fully out of the woods yet), áfach (however).

Tá go leor fós le feabhsú maidir léi (much can still be improved in relation to it).

Mar shampla, ceapann daoine uaireanta gur teanga mharbh (dead language) í an Ghaeilge agus nach bhfuil sí úsáideach sa saol oibre (useful in the working world).

Caithfimid cur i gcuimhne do na daoine sin (we have to remind those people) go bhfuil an-chuid deiseanna fostaíochta (lots of employment opportunities) ag baint léi.

Mar shampla, roimh an mbliain 2030, tá ar fhiche faoin gcéad (twenty percent) de dhaoine tá earcaithe san earnáil phoiblí (hired in the public sector) a bheith cumasach (proficient) sa Ghaeilge.

Tá go leor eagraíochtaí (many organisations) ag fostú (employing) daoine le Gaeilge an t-am ar fad, an tAontas Eorpach agus na Cúirteanna (the Courts) san áireamh.

Tá fadhb ann sa chóras oideachais (education system) freisin.

Níl daltaí sásta leis an mbealach seanfhaiseanta (the old-fashioned way) a mhúintear an Ghaeilge (Irish is taught) don Teastas Sóisearach agus don Ardteist araon (for both the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate).

Ba mhaith leo fáil réidh leis (they would like to get rid of) an bhfilíocht sheanfhaiseanta (the old-fashioned poetry) mar shampla, mar ceapann siad nach bhfuil sé ábharaíoch don lá atá inniu ann (relevant today).

Conclusion

Mar fhocal scoir (to conclude), tá orainn rud éigin a dhéanamh láithreach bonn (we have to do something right now) sula mbeidh ár bport seinnte (before our fate is sealed) maidir leis an nGaeilge.

Is fearr mall ná go brách, mar a deirtear (better late than never, as they say).

Tá treoir, spreagadh agus moladh riachtanach (direction, encouragement and advice are necessary) chun feabhas a chur ar staid na Gaeilge (to improve the state of Irish).

Cathain a bheidh an Ghaeilge ina príomhtheanga arís (When will Irish be a majority language again)?

Is maith an scéalaí an aimsir (time will tell).

Má thugaimid faoi mar is ceart, ní baol dúinn (if we do what is right, there’s no danger).