GO mBEANNAÍ Dia daoibh, hello to avid readers and the illiterate alike, you are all welcome to the Bluffer’s Guide to Irish.
As some of you might know, September 8 is Lá Domhanda na Litearthachta - World Literacy Day.
According to Andrew Kay, CEO and Founder of the World Literacy Foundation says that “51% of children from low income homes in Northern Ireland don’t own a single book and 46% of them struggle to read.”
Ní liom leabhar ar bith is how you would say I don’t own any books; níor cheannaigh mé leabhar riamh - I’ve never bought a book; ní léim leabhair - I don’t read books.
Of course, it’s not just children but adults too who struggle with literacy for different reasons, disléicse - dyslexia the main one which is a pity as being able to read all kinds of books is one of life’s great pleasures as well as a foundation for a future life.
As the World Literacy Foundation points out, “The ability to read is vital i gcúrsaí oideachais - in education, obair a fháil - getting a job and barr feabhais a bhaint amach - to achieve your full potential rather than being trapped in a cycle of poverty.
But apart from that, books are great craic.
It’s like having a buffet for your brain, but without the calories but reading only one type of book is like eating only one type of cereal for breakfast every day.
That’s what happens when you stick to just one seánra - genre or ábhar - topic.
Let’s break it down: reading a úrscéal mistéire - a mystery novel is like solving a complex puzzle without the pressure of a ticking bomb (unless it’s a scéinséir - a thriller, then the bomb might be involved).
Reading a scéal grá - a love story is like experiencing the emotional roller coaster of a relationship without actually having to change your relationship status ar na meáin shóisialta - on social media.
Agus tú ag léamh leabhair ficsean eolaíochta - reading a science fiction book is like taking a holiday to a distant planet but, truth be told, the Bluffer is more into non-fiction and particularly likes reading about history, which is like having a time machine that doesn’t require plutonium and a DeLorean.
However, it should be pointed out that not everyone has access to suitable books.
World Literacy Foundation supports literacy around the world to ensure that páistí imeallaithe - marginalized children have access to quality books, resources and educational tools in order to gain the foundational literacy skills they need to reach their fullest potential, and be productive members of society.
This year, WLF are running a fundraising campaign that will provide children’s book and resources to a group of young women in Afghanistan, who are working to ensure that girls access to books and educational resources inside their own homes so they are looking for people who are passionate about literacy to share their social media posts to promote this campaign and consider running a local fundraising event.
For info, go to worldliteracyfoundation.org/.
CÚPLA FOCAL
Lá Domhanda na Litearthachta (laa dowanda na litcherhakhta) - World Literacy Day
Ní liom leabhar ar bith (nee lum lyore er beeh) - I don’t own any books
níor cheannaigh mé leabhar riamh (neer kyanee may lyore reeoo) - I’ve never bought a book
ní léim leabhair (nee layim lyore) - I don’t read books
disléicse (jisleksa) - dyslexia
i gcúrsaí oideachais (i goorsee idgahish) - in education
obair a fháil (ubber a iyl) - getting a job
barr feabhais a bhaint amach (bar fyowiss a wintch amakh) - to achieve (your) full potential
seánra (shaanra) - genre
ábhar (aower) - topic
úrscéal mistéire (oorshkayl mishtayra) - a mystery novel
scéinséir (shkaynsher) - a thriller,
scéal grá (shkayl graa) - a love story
ar na meáin shóisialta (er na maan hosheealta) - on social media
Agus tú ag léamh leabhair ficsean eolaíochta (agis too eg layoo lyore fichsin oleeakhta) - reading a science fiction book
páistí imeallaithe (paashtee imaleehaa) - marginalized children
