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This study of linguistic and cultural conflict in Wales, Scotland and Ireland shows how their forms of Gaelic retreated before the advance of the English language in the British Isles from the Reformation to the 20th century. ... Read more

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This wide-ranging collection of essays explores the state and future of the Irish language. Contributors from a variety of disciplines examine the language and its relationship to national identity, the impact of immigration and emigration, music, literature, and the media. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The state of the Irish language in the 21st century, unvarnished (for the most part)
This collection of essays attempts to capture, in the early 21st century, the state of the Irish language. For the most part, it's successful, with realistic, clear-eyed, non-emotional descriptions of where the language stands right now. In many cases, these positions are backed up by data (from censuses, or fieldwork).

Much writing on the Irish language is based on wishful thinking, or patently unrealistic data (e.g., census returns stating that over one third of the population of Ireland "speaks" Irish, when clearly the number who can hold an active conversation in it is much, much smaller than this). While this book does contain one or two entries that appear to believe such reports, for the most part, the writing here appears soundly grounded in first-hand experience of how the language is truly used (or not) in the communities in which it is still part of every day life.

It's a rather depressing read in many ways, chronicling the advanced state of language shift in which many Irish-speaking communities find themselves today: kids may be raised speaking Irish in the home, but by the time they're teenagers, many switch to English with their friends, and while their competence in English continues to improve as their minds develop, their competence in Irish may get left behind, as they use the language only in the home. Still, it is valuable, in that it presents things as they are, and not as some would wish them to be.

The focus is decidedly sociological, rather than linguistic. You'll find a few phrases of Irish analyzed here, but for the most part, the emphasis is on the sociological setting in which the language finds itself (how is it viewed, both by its speakers and those who do not speak it? how has this view changed over the past century? how is it viewed on the Internet, as opposed to real life? how is it viewed in educational, governmental, and other spheres?) ... Read more

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The Language of Irish Literature is the first book on the market to discuss Irish Literature in terms of the history of, and the linguistic contacts in, the island. It provides a description of the development of the varieties of English in Ireland, concentrating on the input from Irish Gaelic and Scots as well as English. It examines the history of English in Ireland; the nature of Irish and of Irish Englishes; oral traditions: songs and stories; and the three main literary genres: drama, poetry and prose. ... Read more

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This little book is designed to help those who have some Irish but who are not confident. It will enable them to prepare for many predictable situations where they could expect to use Irish, particularly on visits to the Gaeltacht. ... Read more

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This stand-alone, all-audio course can be used by those who have little or no knowledge of the language, by those who want to learn or brush up basic conversation skills, and by more advanced learners who require extra audio material to complement their current courses. The ten units or 'conversations' cover the situations you are most likely to find yourself in while on holiday or on business abroad. They are divided into two parts, with a dialogue in each part. The dialogue in Part 2 reuses the vocabulary and phrases from Part 1 in a slightly different context. Both parts start with an introduction to the words and phrases you'll need, followed by the dialogue. Finally it's 'Over to you': you take part in the same dialogues following the English prompts, playing all the roles in turn. So you get lots of opportunity to practise! Frequent track markers divide the CDs up into short, easy-to-use clips. Vocabulary and phrases in the first two CDs are kept to the basics and are introduced gradually with lots of opportunity to repeat and practise, to improve your confidence in both speaking and understanding.The third CD concentrates on helping you improve your understanding, so that you will be able to hold two-way conversations with people who speak very fast or use words and phrases you do not know. The course comes on three 75-minute CDs and has an accompanying 48-page booklet which gives the dialogues and the translations of the dialogues, for those who like to see the written word or want additional practice. The booklet also provides a basic glossary of the words and phrases used. This is the perfect complement to 'Irish' and 'Irish Grammar' in the 'Teach Yourself' range. ... Read more

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Pádraig Ó Fathaigh ( 1879-1976) was a lifelong Gaelic Leaguer and teacher of Irish. Already a prominent member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Irish Volunteers before 1916, O Fathaigh was arrested on Easter Tuesday before he could join forces with Liam Mellows. He spent the next year undergoing penal servitude, the first of four terms of imprisonment between 1916 and 1920. When at liberty he acted as an intelligence officer in South Galway and Mid-Clare, taking part in some minor ambushes. His detailed and thoughtful handwritten recollections of life " on the run" and in prison portray the widening chasm between Irish nationalists and agents of authority such as the police. For men like Ó Fathaig, the Irish language was essential to nationality, providing access to a secret world which the oppressor could never enter. These personal recollections will interest all students of the Irish revolution and the Gaelic revival ... Read more

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This book comprises the first complete treatment of the Irish language in social context throughout the whole of Ireland, with a particular focus on contemporary society. The possibilities and limitations of the craft of language planning for the revival of the Irish language are outlined and the book also situates the language issue in the context of current debates on the geography, history and politics of the nature of Irish identity. A comprehensive multidisciplinary approach is adopted throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Hefty price, but essential information, dense & scattered
This volume overlaps three areas: sociological theory on ethnicity and identity formation within a globalized context; a historical synopsis of the Irish language; analyses of surveys and public policy addressing its use in both the Republic and the North of Ireland. Aimed at an academic rather than a general audience, this study would be appropriate for research-level university libraries. Its hefty price of £80 should not impede the wider impact upon which the author, a lecturer in the School of Welsh at Cardiff University, intends this book to have to foment practical policies that encourage the future survival and growth of Irish-speaking communities.

In about 250 pages, Diarmait Mac Giolla Chríost contributes enough material to keep not so much scholars as workers in the area of linguistic promotion inspired for years. He manages to avoid polemic, ignores romanticization, and provides sophisticated models upon which informed initiatives to nourish Irish-language use can be constructed. Although the density of considerable amounts of data may overwhelm any casual reader seeking a concise introduction to the fortunes of the past and present conditions within which Irish has emerged and endured, for those already familiar with sociological and public policy analyses, this study condenses immense efforts to direct discourse about the state and fate of Irish into a previously neglected intersection between academic and community-based efforts. The author applies research too often languishing upon government and academic shelves into a theory-laden but careful examination for a public forum.

This appeal heightens the relevance of Mac Giolla Chríost's thesis. But, his presumed audience may remain narrower than his message deserves. With such impacted concentration of so much research, the book remains curiously uneven. Its three stubbornly discrete levels, even partially synthesized, lack crossover appeal for the majority of an already specialized readership to whom this book-and I would emphasize its implicitly stated need to put its many theories vigorously to work within everyday Irish life-would be received and understood, let alone shifted into action that would strengthen the tenuous grip of the Irish language upon a rapidly globalizing and quickly shrinking native core for whom the language represents a necessary, daily commitment.

(The above is the summary beginning my 2000+ word review for this title for LinguistList, available on-line.) For more accessible, stimulating, and considerably cheaper overviews of linguists on today's Irish language, see the following, the first two of which I have reviewed on Amazon. James McCloskey, Voices Silenced (Dublin: Cois Life, 2003; bilingual); Ciaran MacMurchaidh, Who Needs Irish? (Dublin: Veritas, 2003); and Michael Cronin, Irish in the New Century (Dublin: Cois Life, 2005; bilingual). ... Read more

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First projected by the Irish Archaeological Society in 1852, work on the Dictionary of the Irish Language was initiated by the foremost Irish scholars of the time, John O'Donovan and Eugene O'Curry. Unfortunately, both were dead by 1862, but before his death O'Donovan had outlined how the dictionary should be based on a thorough excerpting of older Irish manuscripts. The meanings of words were to be supported by citations. Etymology was not to be attempted apart from derivation within Irish itself and the giving of sources of loan words. These directions have been adhered to in the work as eventually compiled. From 1852 onwards, work was slowly progressed by numerous scholars and it was only in 1913 that the first fasciculus of the Academy's "Dictionary of the Irish Language" was published. By 1976 all 24 parts of the dictionary were finally completed, running to over 2500 pages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

He's got it wrong!!!
Although Dr. Kelly has put a lot of work and research into the writing of this book, I really fail to grasp his opinion on the matter of teaching of Irish in schools.As Irish nationals, it is essential that our identity is kept alive, hence the teaching of Irish in schools.The idea that students fret about passing Irish is ridiculous - it is as similar to all the other 6-7 subjects the student has to study!The author feels that if Irish was not compulsory, then students could choose other, dare I say it, 'easier' subjects to study.There is no doubt that easier subjects, e.g. geography, art, history, etc. would be chosen.There is an emphasis put on Irish, not alone that it is the national language, but also that be teaching it, it gives a certain standardization to the resulting examinations.Without this, everybody would be cruising through, getting top marks and the standard in the system would be lost.Maybe, the book is directed as a personal opinion, but it DOES NOT represent the opinions of Ireland, it's educators, students, and nationals as a whole.
Slan go foill, agus beannacht De ort. ... Read more