SIGNIFICANCE OF THE IRISH LANGUAGE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CULTURAL IDENTITY OF THE IRISH
Journal Title: Jaunųjų mokslininkų darbai - Year 2015, Vol 43, Issue 1
Abstract
Irish (Gaeilge) is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European languages family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish enjoys a constitutional status as the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland. It is an official language of the European Union and an officially recognised minority language in Northern Ireland. The fate of the language was influenced by the increasing power of the English state in Ireland. In recent decades there has been a significant increase in the number of urban Irish speakers, particularly in Dublin. This community, described as disparate but large, well-educated and mostly middle-class, enjoys a lively cultural life and has been linked to the growth of non-mainstream schools which teach through the medium of Irish. The principal aim of the article is an analysis of the importance of the Irish language in the context of the cultural identity of the Irish. Specifically, we deal with the topical issues concerning language and identity referring to Crystal´s theory of language death. Last but not least we also focus on the renaissance of the Irish language in the Republic of Ireland dealing with selected official documents and strategies aimed at cultivation and preservation of the Irish language in the Republic of Ireland. The research objectives are based on the assumption that the Irish language has played an important role in the formation and cultivation of the cultural identity of the Irish. This is based specifically on the historical-social context which we also deal with in different chapters. Through the research method of analysis we refer to the theory of language death, possibility of the extinction of minority languages, the marginalization of the Irish, and the contemporary support and language revitalization activities in the Republic of Ireland. Therefore, it became one of the research objectives to demonstrate not only the symbolic but also functional value of the Irish language (Irish Gaelic) in the context of the 21st century. Language can be perceived as a crucial part of identity. Language enables us to pass on experiences vital for future generations. Language and culture are mutually interconnected. Keywords: language, identity, cultural identity, Irish language, language death, revival of Irish language
Authors and Affiliations
Anna Slatinská, Genovaitė Kačiuškienė
Keywords
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