While this article is about South African languages, not Irish, it does take a look at the issue of developing new words and phrases:

http://www.pri.org/stories/2013-12-09/a ... ories-tell

Redwolf

It is interesting. I hope the new words catch on and that English isn't allowed to dominate even more than necessary because of an unwillingness to allow the indigenous languages to be modernised to facilitate changing technologies etc.

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Zulu has one man making terms? Lucky boy! No one to argue with him. What's Zulu for 'sa mhaidin, I wonder...

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__̴ı̴̴̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡ ̡̡͡|̲̲̲͡͡͡ ̲▫̲͡ ̲̲̲͡͡π̲̲͡͡ ̲̲͡▫̲̲͡͡ ̲|̡̡̡ ̡ ̴̡ı̴̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡̡.___

Amen!

Yes, but if the words this man is making up don't catch on among the Zulu native speakers, they won't be the correct natural vocabulary of the language, and probably won't be comprehensible to other native speakers. So the question is always one of whether the native community takes up the suggested new words or not.

Many new words were invented in English in the 16th century - some of them did not catch on and were "abortive" attempts to expand the vocabulary. Others did catch on. They say Shakespeare created more than 3000 new words of which some say 1200 and others say 1700 are still in use.

As people have said here - ríomhaire has been adopted into native speech and so is part of the language; oigheann micreathonnach hasn't, and so isn't. Have the words caught on? This is absolutely crucial to any discussion, particularly of a language where so many words are artificially created. I was in the Gaeltacht once and was told that the word for aubergine in Irish is "aubergine" and not "ubhthoradh". Ubhthoradh would be a perfectly good word - if it were used by native speakers.

Of course, independence for KwaZulu would be the best way of ensuring the survival of Zulu in the long run!

So, Patrick...what would you say the native Irish word for "ham" is? (yes, I have a valid reason for asking).

Redwolf

Redwolf, I don't know. I'm not a native speaker of Irish. I just know it is **whatever word the native speakers use** (by very definition). If you know, let me know, as I don't know.

Well, when you've got it worked out, tell me, since you apparently know so much about what is and isn't acceptable in native speech.

Redwolf

Redwolf, I've merely said that what the native speakers say is correct. I've never said I knew what the native speakers say for "ham". But elsewhere on this forum in another thread, you yourself - yes, you yourself - have said that your bean a' tí in Donegal said ceapaire ham. I presume you didn't tell her off for having poor Irish?

He has set forth a simple principle. The application of the principle requires, as Johnny 5 would say, input.

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A language belongs to its native speakers, and when you speak it, you are a guest in their homes.
If you are not a good guest, you have no right to complain about receiving poor hospitality.