1 The Irish Language, Computers, and Business Matt Mac Cárthaigh Fios Feasa

2 Founded in 1997 to make multimedia packages in Irish or bilingually A lot done in 9 years: Nine CD-ROMs published CDs for the Department of Education Multimedia packages and databases for other clients Hundreds of thousands of words translated Training in multimedia, computers, e-tourism, etc. Moved towards education, since there’s a market there Moving into translations and language consultancy

3 CD-ROMs 1. An Chéad Choiscéim 2. Drochlá Ruairí 3. Ruairí sa Zú 4. Amhrán is Fiche 5. Cormac is Órla agus Fionn Mac Cumhaill 6. Tíreolaíocht 7. An Bíobla Naofa 8. Seanfhocail 9. Ogham

4 Business in Irish The subject matter of our business is Irish (“language-based”) Correspondance (letters, s, phone): Irish or bilingually Publicity, advertising, brochures: Irish or bilingually Customers: some want Irish, some English Distributors: all English (Eason’s and “Foreign Language Software”) Suppliers: English Employees: Irish

5 Computers and Irish “The computer can’t understand that, that’s Irish” Accent marks Spell checkers, grammar checkers, auto-correct, etc. Recordings Irish on the WWW

6 Disadvantages Remoteness of Gaeltacht Small, limited market Grants mindset Irish is a language, not a cause Lack of development Education: native speakers with ltd literacy Conflict between speakers and learners An Caighdeán Oifigiúil vs. Canúintí Translations and Terminology Dictionaries

7 Advantages Remoteness of Gaeltacht = high standard of living Small, limited market = identifiable and addressable Grants are available Lack of development = scope for creativity The worth of language and culture Is ina thosach atáimíd!