Nuashonrú ar an Staidéar Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht: 2006-2011

This study on various sociolinguistic indicators in the Irish Gaeltacht was undertaken as an update of the original research project, Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht, published in 2007. It comprises an analysis of the minority language condition in the 155 Electoral Divisions designated as official Gaeltacht districts. The findings categorise the various districts into three vitality profiles. The Category A profile depicts the areas in the Gaeltacht where Irish is spoken, but under threat, as a community language. The B and C Categories correspond with the other areas which are succumbing to the social processes of language shift to English. This updated study offers further insights into the social dynamics and language use patterns which pose serious challenges to the sustainability of Irish as a community and family language in the remaining Irish-speaking districts. Clear threats to the sustainability of Irish as a community language have been documented in this report. The main aims of the study were to identify the barriers to progress in the implementation of support strategies fostering the use of the Irish language, and to learn from these difficulties in order to build on the advantages and the linguistic strengths which exist, so as to inform a positive and dynamic strategy for the future.