Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1988 > Committee on the Irish Language (2nd Committee) > Report No. 05 - Influence of Computerisation on the Irish Language

Aguisín 2

Sleachta as na haighneachtaí:

Tá cur síos anseo ar shleachta as na haighneachtaí agus moltaí a fuarthas ó na dreamanna agus ó na daoine aonair atá luaite in Aguisín 1. Ní chlúdaíonn na sleachta seo ach cuid éigin de na tuairiscí a fuarthas agus déantar trácht orthu anseo le léargas a thabhairt ar na fadhbanna mar a tchítear iad go coitianta ag pobal na Gaeilge ins an am i láthair.

1. Tógadh ceist an tsínidh fhada, agus na deacrachtaí a bhraitear agus daoine ag iarraidh plé leis an cheist seo ar ríomhairí nó ar phrintéirí:

An rud is mó atá ag teacht salach ar cheartscríbhneoireacht na Gaeilge, agus ríomhairí i gceist, nach bhfuil an síne fada ar fáil ar na gutaí nuair is cinnlitreacha iad. (Litir ó Dheasún Breatnach)

[The most serious difficulty for correct writing in Irish, as far as computers are concerned, is that the accent mark is not available on uppercase vowels. (Letter from Deasún Breatnach)]

I dtaobh Síneadh Fada na Gaeilge tá géarghá le Caighdeán a leagan síos maidir leis an mbealach ina choinnítear ar an Ríomhaire é agus an bealach a aimsítear é ón Eochairchlár. (Aighneacht ón Fhoras Ríomheolais)

[As regards the acute accent, there is a pressing need for a standard to be laid down regarding its storage in computers and the ways in which it may be accessed through the keyboard. (Submission from An Foras Ríomheolais)]

I urge the Taoiseach and Government to set standards immediately for Ireland, to ensure that the Irish language is adequately catered for by all suppliers, and in such a way as to facilitate text collation and transfer of text.

This of course would also greatly facilitate the work of terminology and lexicography committees. I address the same request to the European Parliament and Commission and to you at UNESCO to use your voice to ensure that European standards are set that take account of all the languages of Europe. In practical terms, this may mean no more than the addition of a small number of additional characters to the set currently in use.

(Submission by Bord na Gaeilge, extract from a speech by its Cathaoirleach, Helen Ó Murchú, to a UNESCO sponsored symposium in 1987)

2. Maidir le cúrsaí oideachais, is léir go bhfuil imní faoin dochar a d’fhéadfaí a dhéanamh do stádas na teanga muna gcuirtear na háiseanna cuí ar fáil ins na scoileanna:

Tá cúrsaí sna teicneolaíochtaí den riachtanas do scoileanna lánGhaeilge agus d’institiúidí tríú leibhéil a fhreastlaíonn ar na scoileanna seo … Maidir le múineadh na Gaeilge féin, ba chóir raidhse bogábhair, cluichí spraoi agus cluichí oideachasúla … a bheith ar soláthar. (Aighneacht ó Chomhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge)

[Courses in technology are essential for Irish medium schools and third level institutes serving these schools… As regards the actual teaching of Irish, a wide range of software, computer games and educational games… ought to be made available. (Submission from Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge)]

Agus na ríomhairí á dtabhairt isteach ins na bunscoileanna, is léir go bhfuil an-tábhacht ag baint leis an bhunoideachas ríomhaireachta a chur ar fáil tríd an Ghaeilge. Ina theannta sin, d’fhéadfaí úsáid a bhaint as na ríomhairí seo le feabhas agus beocht úr a spreagadh i dteagasc na Gaeilge.

(Litir ón Dr Ailbhe Ní Chasaide)

[As computers are introduced into the primary schools, it is clear that it is essential to make basic computer literacy available through Irish. In addition, such computers could be used to improve and instill a new liveliness into the teaching of Irish. (Letter from Dr Ailbhe Ní Chasaide)]

Níl aon bhogábhar oideachasúil oiriúnach ann fós chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sna bunscoileanna le húsáid an ríomhaire. (Litir ón Roinn Oideachais)

[There is as yet no suitable computer software to improve the position of Irish in primary schools. (Letter from the Department of Education)]

3. Ar na réimsí eile den Tuairisc seo, rinneadh tagairtí do cheist na téarmaíochta:

Bíonn deacrachtaí teacht air agus coinneáil suas chun dáta le théarmaí oiriúnacha go háirithe sna réimsí teicneolaíochta agus gnó. (Moltar) taisce eolais téarmaíochta (Terminological Database) gur féidir teacht air trí ghréasán telechumarsáide nó trí dhíoscaí ríomhaireachta a bheadh ar díol. (Aighneacht ó Údarás na Gaeltachta)

[There are difficulties in obtaining access to and staying in touch with suitable terminology, particularly in the fields of technology and business. (We suggest) a Terminological Database which could be accessed through a telecommunications network or on computer disks. (Submission from Údarás na Gaeltachta)]

Go bhfoilseofaí foclóir téarmaíochta Ríomhaireachta. (Aighneacht ón Fhoras Ríomheolais)

[That a dictionary of computer terminology should be published. (Submission from An Foras Ríomheolais)]

Cuireadh plean cuimsitheach le chéile a rianaigh an úsáid a d’fhéadfaí a bhaint as ríomhaire (ins An Choiste Téarmaíochta) ach d’uireasa ríomhaire níorbh fhéidir aon chuid de seo a chur i gcrích ag an bpointe seo. (Litir ón Roinn Oideachais)

[A comprehensive plan outlining the use to which computers could be put (in the Terminology Committee) has been drawn up, but due to the lack of computers it has not been possible to put this into effect at the moment. (Letter from the Department of Education)]