Samhlaím nach bhfuil muid buíoch go leor, mar phobal don idirlíon. Glac leis go bhfuil mé ag caint mar gheall ar phobal na Gaeilge. De dheasca Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, Skype, Tumblr agus blaganna, tá online presence ag gach mac máthar. Is trí na líonraithe shóisialta seo a chuireann daoine iad féin in iúl anois cruthaítear féiniúlacht, go fíorúil ar líne.
Tugaim faoi deara, nach daoine amháin atá ag cruthú prófíl ar líne ach tá comhlachtaí, feachtais agus teangacha ina measc freisin. Má chaitheann tú cúpla nóiméad ag póirseáil trí Twitter nó Facebook, tá sé rí-shoiléir go bhfuil áit nua cruthaithe do dhaoine ar spéis leo an teanga agus gach ní a bhaineann léi. Níl aon rud imeallaithe ar an idirlíon, bí cinnte de go bhfuil duine eile amuigh ansin a bhfuil an spéis chéanna acu agus atá agatsa, bíodh siad in Taiwan nó san Iarmhí.
Tá nasc cothaithe ag an idirlíon don phobal a bhí scaipithe amach óna chéile agus anois, d’fhéadfaí pobal, fiú más pobal samhalta atá ann, a thabhairt air. Tá muid, mar phobal, níos giorra dá chéile ná riamh agus teagmháil láithreach againn lena chéile, cé go bhfuil an baol ann nach gcuirfimid aithne ar aghaidheanna a chéile go deo.
Tá domhan na Gaeilge anois níos oscailte anois ná mar a bhí ariamh roimhe seo agus tá teacht ar fhíseáin a mhúineann fuaimniú na teanga chomh maith le ceachtanna gramadaí a léiríonn struchtúr na n-abairtí. De bharr na bhforbairtí seo, d’fhéadfaí a maíomh go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ag fáiltiú roimh fhoghlaimeoirí nua agus fuinneamh úr idirnáisiúnta – rud a bhí ag teastáil le fada an lá.
Is scríbhneoir agus léachtóir le Gaeilge í Siún Ní Dhuinn in UCD
I don’t think we’re grateful enough for the internet, as a community. I’m referencing the Irish language community here. Thanks to the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, Skype, Tumblr and the millions of blogs, everyone on earth appears to have an online presence. Through these social networking sites, people express themselves and create a virtual identity.
I have noticed, though, that it’s not just people who have created identities but companies, protestors and language movements have also taken their places. If you spend a few minutes looking through Twitter or Facebook, it becomes instantly clear that there is a new space for those interested in the language. Nothing is marginalised on the internet, and if you have an interest in something, be sure that you share it with someone, be they in Taiwan or Westmeath.
The internet has cultivated a connection between people who had been spread out from each other, and has managed to produce a virtual community. We are, as a community, closer to each other than we ever have been before and have instant access to each other, despite the fact that we might never meet face-to-face.
The Irish world has opened itself up to the rest of the world, and now there are videos available to teach the pronunciation of the language as well as online lessons that clarify syntax and who knows what else. Because of these developments, one could claim that Irish is now welcoming new learners and fresh international energy –something which was needed for a long time.
Siún Ní Dhuinn is a writer and lecturer at UCD
