I first started using SSiWelsh around 2011 or 2012. I’ve lurked some years, participated greatly in the community some years, and have even had the pleasure of meeting Aran and some other wonderful SSi folk in person. I can genuinely say that Aran and the team are some of the most passionate people about preserving vulnerable languages.
Just because the team isn’t ready yet to disclose fully how things operate in a way that satiates your petition, that’s on you to wait and work with them. The fact that 75%+ of the languages being prepared will be available for free shows the dedication that the team has in preserving, extending, and making available quality language courses.
I am not a fan of AI myself (I only use free and open weight models myself, and only somtimes). That said, the current iteration of SSi is a work in progress which means that the technology stack is also a moving target. It’s hard to be fully transparent when the stack itself is evolving, one might want to get their “ducks in a row” first before further transparency. I also know SSi is co-developing a means for volunteers to assist and fill in the gaps where the AI cannot. I think that’s a wonderful compromise. I also know (because I lurk) that SSi is partnered or has worked with Irish language advocates in positions of power in Ireland. I think as the relationship evolves, with relation to Irish specifically, you will most likely see a pivot to something that is more akin to your taste.
Hello all,
Still ploughing through the black belt, but have a couple of suggested corrections.
The past tense of téigh is repeatedly given as chuaigh mé/níor chuaigh mé. But it’s a very irregular verb in the past tense, and should be chuaigh mé (affirmative), ní dheachaigh mé (neg), an ndeachaigh mé? (interr)
''nó" is regularly given as the word for the English “no”, but ‘nó’ means ‘or’. I believe yes and no are formed in Irish by mirroring back the verb in the question (like in Welsh). e.g.
Yes, it’s a tough level. I’m at about 60 per cent and it’s pure stubbornness keeping me going. “Maybe I like the misery”, as Mrs Doyle used to say to Father Ted.
Maybe we need to think of some kind of interim encouragements for black belts (I think we do tend to presume by that point you’re good enough to look after yourself ).
It’s got to the point now that when I hear Robo-Aran start to say “I know you want to make fewer mistakes…” my brain starts “Ta is agam go bhfuil tu ag irraigh…”
The blackbelt level in the old Italian course was pretty endless too (although that’s a good thing!).
In terms of encouragements, I have a suggestion. I rather like the new pictures and it would be lovely if, after you get to black belt, each new 20% of the level unlocked a new picture. So on reaching blackbelt, you get a new picture and the app slowly cycles between this one and the o.g. one. And then on 20% you get a third picture, on 40%, a 4th, etc.
It would just be a nice way to break the long blackbelt journey up with little mini-rewards.
I have had a couple of chats with lovely Lila (thank you!), who is very kind and patient. Handily, she also speaks Welsh so if I get interference in the Irish she at least knows what I’m trying to say!
).
