the second english dominion ireland. arrival of normans in ireland in 1169, king henry ii of england gained irish lands , fealty of many native gaelic nobles. 14th century, however, english rule largely limited area around dublin known pale. english influence on country waned during period point english-dominated parliament driven legislate irish of english descent must speak english (requiring did not know english learn it) through statutes of kilkenny in 1367.
english rule expanded in 16th century tudor conquest of ireland, leading gaelic order collapse @ start of 17th century. flight of earls in 1607 paved way plantation of ulster , deepening of english language culture in ireland. cromwellian plantation , suppression of catholicism, including both native irish , old english (those of anglo-norman descent), further cemented english influence across country.
as centuries passed , social conditions in ireland deteriorated, culminating in great irish famine, irish parents didn t speak irish children knew children might have emigrate , irish of no use outside home country, in britain, united states, australia or canada. in addition, introduction of universal state education in national schools 1831 proved powerful vector transmission of english home language, greatest retreat of irish language occurring in period between 1850 , 1900.
by 20th century, ireland had centuries-old history of diglossia. english prestige language while irish language associated poverty , disfranchisement. accordingly, irish people spoke both irish , english refrained speaking children in irish, or, in extreme cases, feigned inability speak irish themselves. despite state support irish language in irish free state (later republic of ireland) after independence, irish continued retreat, economic marginality of many irish-speaking areas (see gaeltacht) being primary factor. reason irish spoken mother tongue small number of people on island of ireland. irish has been compulsory subject in schools in republic since 1920s , proficiency in irish until mid-1980s required government jobs.
it may noted, however, words (especially germane political , civic life) in irish remain features of irish life , rarely, if ever, translated english. these include names of legislative bodies (such dáil Éireann , seanad Éireann), government positions such taoiseach , tánaiste, of elected representative(s) in dáil (teachta dála), , political parties (such fianna fáil , fine gael). ireland s police force, garda síochána, referred gardaí , or guards short. irish appears on government forms, euro-currency, , postage stamps, in traditional music , in media promoting folk culture. irish placenames still common houses, streets, villages, , geographic features, thousands of townlands. these important exceptions, , despite presence of irish loan words in hiberno-english, ireland today largely english-speaking country. fluent or native irish speakers minority in of country, irish remaining vernacular in relatively small gaeltacht regions, , irish speakers have fluent english.
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