Irish language

Though not a dominant language in Ireland, it would be false to state that “the Irish language is now dying” (Hindley 248). In fact, the Irish language is a unique example of an endangered language that has been able to survive near extinction. While it is a “miracle that Irish has survived at all as a language,” the credit for its survival can be given “to those who had the courage and the tenacity to hold on to their native tongue in such terrible circumstances” (Great Famine, par. 10). These terrible circumstances refer to the destruction to the Gaeltacht regions of Ireland, caused by the famine, and the enforcement of English by the British. According to historians, “Irish was still the ‘home’ language of the people…right up until nearly…

interesting to share about the uses of language in my family, I was reminded of an anonymous metaphor that easily relates to ethnography, “It is not the fish that discovers the water,” which recognizes the challenge of me as the fish to see the social world that surrounds me; ‘water’. Introspectively becoming that fish that does ‘discover’ the water that surround me in a socio-linguistic sense, I took a harder look at irregularities I had never before heard outside the context of my immediate…

explore the country every year. Unbeknownst to most, there was a time when the Irish did not want to live there and began to immigrate…

rewarding when deciphered. Despite complex language and abstract metaphors, Yeats employs many stylistic devices to make his poetry more accessible. The area I found most rewarding was his subject matter. The philosophical nature was very demanding but offered us a different perspective on both life and Irish history. On a technical level, Yeats’ poems are superb. In my opinion however, the simple things, executed immaculately, are the most effective in his poems. The power of the opening lines…

1980 play Translations tells the story of the fictional Donegal village of Baile Beag during the First Ordnance Survey of Ireland – a mapping of the country and anglicizing the Irish names of the places. The major theme of the play is language, and more specifically how the loss of a language can also help erase people’s history, culture and identity. In the 1800s Ireland was still a predominantly Gaelic-speaking nation. In 1975, only 2.7% of Irish speakers possessed a native speaker ability and…

Melina Marchetta once said “Because without our language, we have lost ourselves. Who are we without our words?”(Melina Marchetta quotes about language) Without words there is no passion or purpose for us to portray our thoughts and opinions. Even though learning English will benefit the Irish natives, what they don’t understand is that in meaning they are losing their heritage. The society of Baile Beag in a sense wants to set the Gaelic language behind them and move onward towards the English…

My hat from Ireland is important to me because I am part Irish and i want to go live in Ireland some day. This hat is green and black and I have had it for 2 years now and it means a lot to me. I wear it almost every day or whenever I can. This is important to me because I am part Irish and I want to live in Ireland some day. This is also important to me because it was a gift from my dad. Overall I think that this is an amazing gift and I will always keep wearing it. My Fairytale armband is…

In the wake of a bombing that lead to the loss of the innocent lives of two children, a song that called for peace, titled “Zombie”, was written. It was written and released by The Cranberries, an Irish punk rock band, in 1993—shortly after the Northern Irish militant group bombed a mall in Warrington. With moving lyrics and a unique style of singing, the song was a worldwide hit, bringing attention to the Ireland-England conflict. Its impact may have possibly aided in the peace that they…

In Translations, by Brian Friel, language is used as a mechanism to feature the many issues of communication within the characters’ small Irish village. Throughout the play, Friel attempts to advocate for the Irish language because he believes that language represents one’s identity and historical background. Unfortunately, the town, and specifically the local school, have been appropriated by British officers, whose main goal is to transition the school into an entirely English-spoken school,…

In Adam Kaul’s “Between Tradition and Innovation”, he discusses the ways innovation has changed the Irish tradition of pub seisiúns. Specifically, he notes how this classic Irish social event has been molded by advances and developments of the twentieth century, such as poverty, immigration, politics and technology. However, there is a lot of tension between “preserving the core of the tradition and allowing for creative innovations,” (Kaul, 92) which can be seen through various historical…