IRISH English and What Makes it Different

Summary

The video discusses the distinct features of Irish English, also known as Hiberno-English, which sets it apart from other English varieties. It traces the historical roots of Irish English, highlighting the influence of Irish and British dialects, and explains its unique aspects in accent, vocabulary, and grammar. The video examines how Irish English has been shaped by historical events like England’s colonial rule and the Great Famine. It also explores different dialects within Ireland and specific features like pronunciation, idioms, and grammar quirks that reflect Irish language influence.

Takeaways

• 🌍 English is spoken in various countries with different dialects, including British, Australian, American, Canadian, South African, and Irish English.
• 🍀 Irish English (Hiberno-English) has distinct features due to Ireland's linguistic history and the influence of the Irish language.
• 📜 English largely displaced the Irish language during England's colonial rule, starting with the Anglo-Norman invasion in the 12th century.
• 🎓 Irish people initially learned English informally, without much education, which caused them to adopt non-standard English grammar and pronunciation.
• 🔤 Irish English features unique pronunciations, such as the rhotic 'r' sound and the pronunciation of 'th' as 't' or 'd'.
• 🗣️ Vocabulary in Irish English includes words like 'yoke' (thing), 'crack' (fun), 'bold' (mischievous), and 'grand' (fine or good).
• ⏳ Grammatical structures differ in Irish English, such as the use of 'after' for recent actions ('I'm after finishing work').
• 🔄 There are variations in Irish English accents, including local Dublin, new Dublin, western, and northern dialects.
• 🇮🇪 Irish English retains some old English grammar and vocabulary, and is influenced by the Irish language in sentence structures and idioms.
• 📚 Features like resumptive pronouns and clefting ('It's raining it is') reflect both Irish influence and regional linguistic identity.

Q & A

What are some key varieties of English spoken in Ireland?

The varieties of English spoken in Ireland are known as Irish English or Hiberno-English. Some dialects include the traditional dialect of Dublin (local Dublin), the new Dublin dialect, the Western dialect, the Southwestern dialect, and the Northern dialects or Ulster dialects.

How did English become dominant in Ireland over the Irish language?

English became dominant in Ireland during the English reconquest in the 16th century. Land was confiscated, and English-speaking settlers populated the island. Although Irish was widely spoken before the 1800s, English became the prestige language, necessary for social and economic opportunities. The Great Famine of the 1840s, which disproportionately affected Irish speakers, further accelerated the shift to English.

What influence did Irish have on the development of Irish English?

Irish influenced the development of Irish English because many Irish people, when adopting English, applied grammar and pronunciation rules from their native Irish language. Additionally, most Irish speakers who learned English were illiterate and received no formal education in English, so they naturally didn't follow its rules strictly.

How do the pronunciations of 'R' and 'th' sounds in Irish English differ from other English varieties?

Irish dialects are rhotic, meaning the 'R' sound is always pronounced, unlike in most varieties of British English where 'R' is often silent after a vowel. Additionally, in Irish English, voiced 'th' is pronounced as 'd,' and voiceless 'th' is pronounced as 't' (e.g., 'thirsty' becomes 'tirsty').

What are some distinctive vocabulary terms used in Irish English?

Some distinctive vocabulary in Irish English includes: 'yoke' for an inanimate object, 'crack' for fun or gossip, 'bold' for mischievous behavior, 'grand' for fine or great, 'deadly' for something amazing, and 'Jacks' for the bathroom. Other slang includes 'acting the maggot' for acting foolish and 'head wrecker' for an annoying person.

How does the grammar of Irish English differ from Standard English?

Irish English has several grammatical peculiarities, such as using 'ye' as a plural form of 'you,' using 'them' as a demonstrative adjective ('them books'), and sometimes omitting the plural ending for time or measure nouns ('two year'). Irish English also uses the 'after' perfect ('I'm after finishing work') and resumption pronouns in relative clauses ('the field we used to play in it').

What is the 'after perfect' construction in Irish English?

The 'after perfect' in Irish English consists of 'after' followed by a gerund or noun phrase to indicate an action that has just been completed. For example, 'I'm after finishing work' means 'I’ve just finished work.' This construction is unique to Irish English.

What are some Irish English idiomatic expressions and their meanings?

Some idiomatic expressions include 'up to 90,' meaning very busy, 'acting the maggot,' meaning acting foolish or mischievous, and 'wrecking my head,' meaning someone is annoying or frustrating. Another example is 'what’s the crack?' which means 'what’s the news or fun?'

How has the pronunciation of certain vowel sounds in Irish English evolved?

Vowel sounds in Irish English vary by region. In Dublin, for example, the diphthong in 'mouth' is pronounced as 'moyth,' and the vowel in 'car' is pronounced as 'kor.' Similarly, the diphthong in 'choice' becomes 'chice' in some regions.

What is 'clefting' in Irish English, and how does it affect sentence structure?

Clefting is a syntactic construction used in Irish English to emphasize different parts of a sentence. It often uses 'it' to divide a sentence into two clauses. For example, 'It’s raining, it is' emphasizes the verb phrase, while 'It was Dan, there she did' highlights the action. Clefting is a feature that adds focus or emphasis to certain elements.