Learning a new language, especially an endangered one, can be extremely daunting. I am currently attempting to learn Gaeilge (Irish) and it has been very difficult to find people around me who speak the language. Instead, I have started to slowly incorporate Irish phrases into my day-to-day life. While I may not always get the pronunciation spot on, it is helping me get language practice when I otherwise would not. 

I have begun to incorporate phrases such as “dia duit” (hello) or “go raibh maith agat” (thank you). These phrases are short and simple, not requiring me to think about verb conjugation or sentence structure. It is accessible and brings a part of Irish language and culture into my day-to-day life. 

For many, including myself, learning a new language can be extremely daunting, especially with people constantly telling you, “You’ll never be fully fluent.” And maybe they are correct, I may never be fully fluent in Irish, but that doesn’t mean that you should give up on the language. Using simple phrases such as “please” and “thank you” in your target language, or even less translatable phrases such as “oy vey” can be a great way to keep your culture alive. 

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In language enthusiast spaces, it is often said that each language contains an entire universe and that when a language dies, that universe and the knowledge it keeps is lost. Using simple language phrases in your day-to-day life is a great way to keep languages alive, especially concepts that cannot be easily conveyed or translated into other languages. Take the term “oy vey” which is a Yiddish term used to express grief or dismay. 

The spirit of oy vey simply cannot be perfectly translated into another language, its feeling and expression is uniquely captured in its Yiddish existence. The use of this phrase also does not require the speaker to be fluent in order to understand and appreciate its meaning. Incorporating oy vey into one’s day-to-day life will keep their connection to Yiddish alive, potentially preserving the language even if fluent speakers become extinct. 

Using simple phrases in my day-to-day life has also improved my confidence in speaking Irish. While I am still timid when I meet fluent speakers, I have more confidence now than before I started this process. The ability to consistently hear the language throughout the week, especially in a place like Los Angeles where there are very few Irish speakers, is important for my progress. 

One cannot get more comfortable speaking in a language if they never practice in the language. Speaking practice for endangered language learners, especially those not attached to a language community, may not be easily accessible. A Dine language learner living in New York City may not have a way to speak to other Dine language learners in order to practice, so using simple phrases may provide them with much-needed practice. 

Using Irish has also encouraged me to look up and learn new phrases that I had not already come across in my language learning journey. It has encouraged me to learn slang terms such as “craic” which is used in reference to “having a good time.” This isn’t a term that is taught in the Duolingo Irish course, but is a term that can be used both in English and in Irish.

It works perfectly to ask “What’s the craic?” or it can be used to inquire about a specific situation such as “What’s the craic with him?” These phrases add a flair and meaning to my everyday speech that wouldn’t be there without my continued effort to incorporate the Irish language into my daily life.

Language learning is a scary endeavor, and it can oftentimes feel like too big of a task to accomplish, but this small and simple thing has helped me connect deeper with Irish. My continued use of the language, even if my pronunciation isn’t always up to snuff, has allowed me to become more comfortable with the language and enjoy my journey more. 

A phrase a day helps keep language extinction away. Go dté tú slán!

Peyton Dacy is a junior writing about the importance of language revitalization as an indigenous language dies out every 40 days. Dacy’s column, “Every 40 days,” runs every other Tuesday. Dacy is also the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director at the Daily Trojan.