Honors Theses
Date of Award
2008
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Liberal Studies
First Advisor
Allison Burkette
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
The future of Irish as a living language is uncertain, and some fear it will vanish completely. In this paper I explore how the main language of Ireland shifted from Irish to English and discuss the perspectives of the Irish themselves toward the Irish language. Chapter 1 summarizes the history of the language from its introduction to the island by the earliest Celts to its current secondary role. Chapter 2 reviews the concepts of language death and revitalization both generally and as they apply to Irish, using models by David Crystal and Joshua Fishman. The final chapter is an analysis of my interviews of four Irish natives living in the United States. While the Irish government fervently supports the continued teaching and use of the language and the majority of the Irish people themselves believe it to be an important part of being Irish, few people actually it. While opinions of the interviewees differed in some respects, all were overwhelmingly favorable toward maintaining Irish as a living language. It seems unlikely that Irish will ever again be the primary language in Ireland. Nonetheless, even if it remains in its current state, the Irish’s sense of national identity appears secure with their historic language being more symbolically than practically important.
Recommended Citation
Fyke, Georgia Katherine, "An Bhuil Gaeilge Agat?: Perspectives on the Irish Language in Ireland" (2008). Honors Theses. 2006.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/2006
Accessibility Status
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