Ireland's Linguistic Traditions

This module will

i) deal with the place of the Irish and English languages in the European and world situations; i

i) survey the fortunes of the Irish language;

iii) study the distinctive nature of the Hiberno-English dialect, and

iv) pay particular attention to surnames and placenames as important elements in Ireland's linguistic heritage.

1. Understand the nature of Language evolution;

2. Understand the historical forces that explain the current position of the Irish language;

3. Recognise the legitimacy and uniqueness of the Hiberno-English dialect; and be familiar with its most noteable features;

4. Decipher the meaning of many Irish surnames and placenames;

5. Appreciate the many threads that make up the pattern of language use in Ireland today