Checked into IGTF periodically today, and the greatest number I saw on-line was 273. I actually checked right at 1:51 p.m., which is when we posted our greatest-ever number on-line at this time last year: 1183.

No one was there answering requests...in fact, there are still several posts there with zero responses.

They really did kill their cash cow. Idiots.

BTW, something I never noticed before because my old computer's speakers were broken (I had to plug in headphones to listen to TG4)...that audio ad is seriously annoying, and very difficult to close! Were any of you getting that one? Given that a lot of people log on from work, I can see why our post count went down so radically and so quickly!

Redwolf

Hopefully Redwolf, they'll soon see their ratings drop when you type in Gaelic and translate into google. It'll take awhile though because gaelic is such bloody relevant word. I'd say that most people in the Americas associate Irish with the word gaelic as appossed to Irish, Is that right? But as soon as it starts to slip down the rating there not going to get any advertisng- thats when they'll start to care..

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Please wait for corrections/ more input from other forum members before acting on advice

You are right that in America to say that someone speaks "Irish" is very confusing. We have always known the language as "Gaelic". I suppose this is what the Irish people called it when they came here and it has stayed in the English that we speak that way. It couldn't just have come from a vacuum.

I have never heard the term "Gaelic" used by someone in the general population to be the language spoken in Scotland. People here in the know in Scottish communities do call it "Gaelic" as well. I suppose Americans generally consider it pretty much the same language. I try to help people realize the nuance by just calling is "Irish Gaelic" or "Scottish Gaelic". I sent one to this site today who had asked me about where to get a translation for a tattoo.

95% of the time if an American contacts this site asking for a translation in "Gaelic" I would imagine that it can be safely assumed to be a request for Gaeilge unless they hint they're after the "Scottish Gaelic" translation for this or that.

As long as people continue to offer translations, IGTF will remain alive.

There is about 20 unanswered in the last 3 days on IGTF.

I feel sympathy for the people who want translations, especially those who want want tattoos for deceased loved ones. After a while ILF will be on top of the search engines lists.

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
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A few have been redirected here which greatly increases their chances of more contributions.

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Chuir mise Pm ag beirt inniu.

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___________________________________________________________

It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
___________________________________________________________

Replace 'economic' with 'cultural'.

Not a perfect fit, but pretty close.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absentee_landlord

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Yep...same old story!

Their heavy-handed tactics reminded me strongly of what happened to the neighborhood I grew up in. As older neighbors passed on, or moved to retirement facilities, the houses were bought up by people from out of state and rented out for whatever they could get, with no mind to maintaining the properties or consideration for keeping the mostly blue-collar, family-oriented neighborhood viable. The people who moved into the house next to us were drug dealers who played loud music all night and all day, kept two vicious dogs that roamed the streets, and proceeded to completely trash the property.

You know what happened when we contacted the absentee owner about the problems? We were threatened with a lawsuit.

The properties there are all but useless now. So many houses are trashed, and the criminal element is so large, the owners can't get anyone but the meth heads and gang leaders to rent them. Sure, a few people stayed and continued to keep their homes and yards in good condition (my parents among them), but when it comes time to sell them, no one will want them except other absentee landlords.

Sounds just like the situation at IGTF. Even if a few people continue to hang in there and offer translations, without enough advanced to fluent speakers remaining to offer confirmations, quality will begin to suffer. As is already happening, translation requests will go unanswered. With no moderators, spam posts will continue to proliferate. It's already beginning to look a little like my old neighborhood.

Redwolf