Irish

GLE

wider communication

Alternate Names: Erse, Gaeilge, Gaelic Irish

Dialects: Connacht (Western Irish), Donegal (Northern Irish, Ulster), Munster-Leinster (Southern Irish).

Genealogy:

Indo-European
Celtic
Insular
Goidelic

Demographics: 138,000 in Ireland (ELDIA 2012). Population total all countries: 276,310. L2 users: 1,000,000 in Ireland (ELDIA 2012).

Language Use: A number of children learn the language but the number is decreasing (Salminen 2007). Also use English [eng] (Salminen 2007).

Language Development: New media. Radio programs. Grammar. Bible: 1685–1981.

Typology: VSO.

Spoken In: Ireland

Writing System: Latin, Latin (Gaelic)

Nation of Origin: Ireland

Other Comments: Taught as an official language in schools and encouraged by the government.