Cupla Focail goes online! New English-Irish translation website officially launched

English-Irish dictionary first of its kind since 1959

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KERRY O'SHEA,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

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Focloir.ie brings Irish language into the 21st century

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The Internet bid ‘Cead Mile Failte’ to the newest English-Irish dictionary in over 50 years on Wednesday. Folcoir.ie is backed by Foras na Gailege, the body responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the whole island of Ireland.

The Irish Sun reports that the new English-Irish dictionary is the first of its kind since Tomas de Bhaldraithe’s version in 1959. The new Folcoir site boasts the additives of modern terms such as Tweeting, cloud computing and cyber bullying.

Irish President Michael D. Higgins officially launched the new website on Wednesday from the National Gallery in Dublin.

Though already launched, the online translation dictionary is very much a work in process. Presently, it features 7500 words, and by the end of January, it should reach about 30 percent completion. The final online and hard-copy version is expected to be completed by 2015.

Editor Dr Padraig O Mianain said: “This dictionary follows the trend in modern international lexicography where usage determines content.”

“Consequently the English content in the new dictionary broadly reflects how that language is used in Ireland, and the Irish content similarly is based on contemporary spoken Irish.”

“We wanted to reflect how Irish is spoken in Gaeltacht areas and we have incorporated audio recordings of pronunciations in the three main Irish language dialects as a further aid to learners of the language.”

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