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S Unit 3: Regional identities Reading–writing: The future of Irish (B2) a) Read the text about the decline of Irish. Underline the most important facts and future recommendations. 1  Stark warning for future of Irish in Gaeltacht areas Report says Irish unlikely to be majority language in Gaeltacht areas in 10 years Irish is unlikely to be the majority spoken language in Gaeltacht areas in ten years time, a major report commissioned by Údarás na Gaeltachta (the regional state agency responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of Irish-speaking regions in Ireland) has warned. The report, which is a reassessment of an earlier study published in 2007, warns that the spoken use of the language is declining at a faster pace than was previously believed. Publication of the latest report was delayed for over a year following a dispute over the final recommendations between its authors and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Prof Ó Giollagáin criticised the current approach to language planning in the Gaeltacht which he said lacks vision and leadership. Calling for the establishment of an emergency commission of inquiry headed by the Irish prime minister to address the accelerated decline of Irish, Prof Ó Giollagáin said: “The situation is so bad, the crisis is so pressing that a new strategy is needed and has to be implemented by those at the highest levels in the State. The 20-year strategy for the Irish language is not strong enough to address the situation in the Gaeltacht.” Daily speakers of Irish have fallen below a 67 per cent tipping point in 134 out of 155 electoral areas in the Gaeltacht. Once the number of daily speakers falls below the 67 per cent tipping point the daily use of Irish in social settings becomes largely restricted to the older generations. Under increasing social pressure to introduce English into their lives, successive generations have a more limited use for Irish. Recommendations published by the authors say an independent commission of inquiry should be set up to address key points of policy implementation. They include clarification of what vision the State has for Irish in Gaeltacht areas and an examination of the State’s apparent reluctance to actively implement its own policy as outlined in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 (Éanna Ó Caollaí, The Irish Times , 29 May 2015) b) As a school project, your class has chosen to investigate the diversity of languages in Austria more closely. The school board has asked your class to write a report as they are interested in which native (L1) and second (L2) languages are spoken at your school. In your report you should: inform the school board about the present situation of L1 speakers at your school outline which language courses are offered for which grades suggest ways for a closer understanding among speakers of different languages Divide your report into sections and give them headings . Write around 250 words . 154 Semester self-checks Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv