A Chara, – With regard to the somewhat over-optimistic view that a world language will lead to peace on earth, may I cite your letters page (in English only) as evidence to the contrary. Idir an dá linn, tá sé i gceist agamsa agus daoine mar mé ár dteanga aoibhinn stairiúil féin a thabhairt slán, even if “foam-lipped ideologues” of English find this determination to ensure that our future is a rational continuation of the past rather annoying. Naturally there will be an international language. No argument there, except of course about which one. – Is mise,
PÁDRAIG MAC
FHEARGHUSA,
Na Cluainte,
Trá Lí
Sir, – Frank Naughton rightly points out that the myth of the Tower of Babel is but one among others; John Thompson’s (August 13th) interpretation of it is also just one among others. While his reading of the story as implying linguistic diversity to be a curse of a vengeful God and intended to “impede mankind from fulfilling its full potential” is typical, it is as reasonable to understand the myth to imply linguistic diversity to be the gift of a creator God to a creation going astray. So understood, the myth suggests that the way to fulfilling the full potential of mankind is through linguistic diversity. – Yours, etc,
DR VERONICA O’NEILL,
Clybaun Road,
Galway