Cover not available
Article published In:
Language Problems and Language Planning
Vol. 38:2 (2014) ► pp.101–127

From revivalist to undertaker

New developments in official policies and attitudes to Ireland’s ‘First Language’

| Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the University of the Highlands and Islands, Scotland
This is the second of a two-part article which examines the implications of the changing relationship between those who exercise political and State power in Ireland and those who adhere to the minority Irish language culture. Building on the analysis in the first article (Ó Giollagáin, 2014) in relation to the evolution of language policy in the Irish State since independence in 1922, this paper offers an analysis of current language policy reform. The analysis here contends that the aim of the current language policy reform process is to give a superficial aura of renewal, while at the same time enshrining the marginalization of the Irish language reducing it to an institution-based identity rather than a sociocultural phenomenon. Rather than intervening proactively against the imminent social collapse of Irish, the Irish State, through the mechanisms of the 20 Year Strategy for Irish and the amended Gaeltacht Act 2012, is instead adopting a palliative care approach to the sociocultural demise of Irish. The first paper contended that the Irish State effectively abandoned the language revival in the early 1970s and this paper asserts that the current reform process marks a completion of the abandonment process by which the Irish State is divesting itself of practical responsibility for the remaining Irish-language (Gaelic) autochthony in the Gaeltacht in favor of a visionless and institutionally-circumscribed L2 language culture for Irish. The Irish state is now effectively consigning the living culture of Irish to history, while at the same time attempting to disguise this significant shift in policy by subcontracting its new policy of encouraging L2 language networks to language agencies with inadequate institutional capacities and resources for the task.
Keywords: language minoritization, language revival, language policy reform, Gaeltacht, Irish language, L1 and L2 language planning interventions, minority language legislation, minority language regeneration
Published online: 12 September 2014
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.38.2.01gio
References (50)
Cooper, R. (1989). Language planning and social change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Fiontar [An Irish-medium department of Dublin City University]. (2009). 20-year Strategy for the Irish Language: Report Prepared for the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Dublin: Fiontar DCU.Google Scholar
Fishman, J.A. (1985). The rise and fall of the ethnic revival: Perspectives on language and ethnicity. Berlin: de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
. (1989). Language and ethnicity in minority sociolinguistic perspective. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
. (1991). Reversing language shift: Theoretical and empirical foundations of assistance to threatened languages. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
. (Ed.) (2001). Can threatened languages be saved? Reversing language shift revisited: A 21st century perspective. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Government of Ireland. (1956). Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment ) Act, 1956 [Legislation establishing the Department of the Gaeltacht]. Dublin: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
. (1979). Acht Údarás na Gaeltachta [Gaeltacht Authority Act]. Dublin: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
. (2002). Gaeltacht Commission: Report. Dublin: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
. (2010). 20-year Strategy for the Irish language 2010–2030. Dublin: The Stationery Office. Downloaded from: [[URL]].Google Scholar
. (2012). Gaeltacht Act 2012. Dublin: The Stationery Office. [[URL]]Google Scholar
Landry, R., Allard R. & Deveau, K. (2007). Bilingual schooling of the French Canadian minority: A cultural autonomy model. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 1851, 133–162.Google Scholar
Lenoach, C. (2009). Dioscúrsa na Gaeilge iarthraidisiúnta [Discourse of post-traditional Irish]. Unpublished MA Thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.Google Scholar
. (2012). An Ghaeilge iarthraidisiúnta agus a dioscúrsa [Post-traditional Irish and its discourse]. In C. Lenoach, C. Ó Giollagáin & B. Ó Curnáin (Eds.), An chonair chaoch: An mionteangachas sa dátheangachas [The blind alley: The minority language condition in bilingualism] (pp. 19–109). Indreabhán: Leabhar Breac.Google Scholar
Lenoach, C., Ó Giollagáin, C. & Ó Curnáin, B. (Eds.) (2012). An chonair chaoch: An mionteangachas sa dátheangachas [The blind alley: The minority language condition in bilingualism]. Indreabhán: Leabhar Breac.Google Scholar
Mac Donnacha, J. (2000). An integrated language planning model. Language Problems and Language Planning, 24(1), 11–35. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Mac Donnacha, S. (2013). An Ghaeltacht i 2013: I ndeireadh na feide [Irish-speaking districts in 2013: The last gasp]. In Comhar (March): 10-11, based on a paper delivered at Tóstal na Gaeilge 2013, Dublin, 16 February.Google Scholar
, (2014). The death of a language, The Dublin Review of Books, 501 (February). Downloaded from: [URL].Google Scholar
Mac Donnacha, S., Ní Chualáin, F., Ní Shéaghdha, A., & Ní Mhainnín, T. (2005). Staid Reatha na Scoileanna Gaeltachta [A study on the contemporary state of Gaeltacht schools]. Dublin: An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta/Council for Gaeltacht and Irish-Medium Education.Google Scholar
Matras, Y. (2009). Language contact. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Ó Bróithe, É. (2008). Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge: Staidéar cróineolaíoch ar theaghlaigh faoin Scéim [The Irish-speaking scheme: A chronological study of recipient families]. Unpublished MA thesis. National University of Ireland, Galway.Google Scholar
. (2012). Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge: Feidhm agus Mífheidhm [The Irish-speaking scheme: A chronological study of recipient families]. In C. Lenoach, C. Ó Giollagáin & B. Ó Curnáin (Eds.), An chonair chaoch: An mionteangachas sa dátheangachas [The blind alley: The minority language condition in bilingualism] (pp. 237–268). Indreabhán: Leabhar Breac.Google Scholar
Ó Cinnéide, M., Mac Donnacha, S. & Ní Chonghaile, S. (2001). Polasaithe agus Cleachtais Eagraíochtaí Éagsúla le Feidhm sa Ghaeltacht: Tuarascáil chríochnaitheach [The policies and practices of organizations operating in the Gaeltacht]. Galway: Centre for Social Science Research, National University of Ireland, Galway.Google Scholar
Ó Cuirreáin, S. (2014). An address to the Parliamentary Sub-committee on the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish language on the 23 January 2014, Oireachtas Éireann / Irish Houses of Parliament.
Ó Curnáin, B. (2007). The Irish of Iorras Aithneach, County Galway, vols. I–IV1. Dublin: Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies.Google Scholar
. (2009). Mionteangú na Gaeilge [Minoritizing Irish]. In B. Ó Catháin (Ed.), Sochtheangeolaíocht na Gaeilge, Léachtaí Cholmcille XXXIX [The sociolinguistics of Irish, Colmcille Lectures, XXXIX], 90–152. An Daingean: An Sagart.Google Scholar
. (2012). An Ghaeilge iarthraidisiúnta agus an phragmataic chódmheasctha thiar agus theas [Post-traditional Irish and the pragmatics of code-mixing in Western and Southern Irish]. In C. Lenoach, C. Ó Giollagáin & B. Ó Curnáin (Eds.), An chonair chaoch: An mionteangachas sa dátheangachas [The blind alley: The minority language condition in bilingualism] (pp. 284–365). Indreabhán: Leabhar Breac.Google Scholar
Ó Giollagáin, C. (2002). Scagadh ar rannú cainteoirí comhaimseartha Gaeltachta: Gnéithe d’antraipeolaíocht teangeolaíochta phobal Ráth Cairn [An examination of speaker typology in the cotemporary Gaeltacht: Aspects of the linguistic anthropology of the Ráth Cairn community ]. The Irish Journal of Anthropology, 61, 25–56.Google Scholar
. (2005). Gnéithe d’antraipeolaíocht theangeolaíoch Phobal Ros Muc, Co. na Gaillimhe [Aspects of the linguistic anthropology of the Ros Muc community, Co. Galway]. In J. Kirk & D. Ó Baoill (Eds.), Legislation, literature and sociolinguistics: Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Scotland. Belfast Studies in Language, Culture and Politics, 131, 138–162.Google Scholar
. (2006). Gnéithe de stair theorainn na Gaeltachta: Coimhlint idir dhá riachtanas [Aspects of the history of the Gaeltacht boundary: A conflict of two requirements]. In A. Doyle & S. Ní Laoire (Eds.), Aistí ar an Nua-Ghaeilge in ómós do Bhreandán Ó Buachalla [Essays on Modern Irish in honor of Breandán Ó Buachalla] (pp. 95-116). Dublin: Cois Life.Google Scholar
. (2008). Linguistic dimensions of the globalised frontier: Old and new minorities in contact and context. The International Journal of Anthropology, 23(3/4), 247–260.Google Scholar
. (2011). Breac-chríocha na heitnitheangeolaíochta agus an forás oideachais sa mhionteanga [Hybridic ethnolinguistic districts and educational development in the minority language]. Comhar, 71(5), 5–9.Google Scholar
. (2012). An Antraipeolaíocht Teanga [Language anthropology]. In T. Ó hIfearnáin & M. Ní Neachtain (Eds.), An tSochtheangeolaíocht: Feidhm agus Tuairisc [Sociolinguistics: Function and depiction] (pp. 15-32). Dublin: Cois Life.Google Scholar
. (2014). Unfirm ground: A re-assessment of language policy in Ireland since independence. Language Problems and Language Planning, 3(1), 19-41. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Ó Giollagáin C., Mac Donnacha, S., Ní Shéaghdha, A., Ní Chualáin, F. and O’Brien, M. (2007a) Comprehensive linguistic study of the use of Irish in the Gaeltacht: Principal findings and recommendations. Dublin: The Stationery Office. [CLS]Google Scholar
Ó Giollagáin C., Mac Donnacha, S., Ní Shéaghdha, A., Ní Chualáin, F. & O’Brien, M. (2007b). Staidéar cuimsitheach teangeolaíoch ar úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht: Tuarascáil chríochnaitheach [Comprehensive linguistic study of the use of Irish in the Gaeltacht: Final report]. Dublin: The Stationery Office. [CLS]Google Scholar
Ó Giollagáin C. & Mac Donnacha, S. (2008). The Gaeltacht Today. In C. Nic Pháidín & S. Ó Cearnaigh (Eds.), A new view of the Irish language (pp. 108-120). Dublin: Cois Life.Google Scholar
Ó Giollagáin, C., Ó Curnáin, B. & Lenoach, C. (2012). Réamhrá [Introduction]. In C. Lenoach, C. Ó Giollagáin & B. Ó Curnáin (Eds.), An chonair chaoch: An mionteangachas sa dátheangachas [The blind alley: The minority language condition in bilingualism] (pp. 3-18). Indreabhán: Leabhar Breac.Google Scholar
Oireachtas Éireann [Irish Parliament] (2011). Third report on the 20-year strategy on the Irish language 2010–2030. Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Sport, Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs of the Irish Parliament.Google Scholar
Péterváry, T. (2010). Pleanáil teanga in Éirinn: Pleanáil ón taobh amuigh [Language planning in Ireland: Planning from without]. Unpublished MA Thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.Google Scholar
Péterváry, T., Ó Curnáin, B. & Ó Giollagáin, C. (2014). Iniúchadh ar an gCumas Dátheangach: An sealbhú teanga i measc ghlúin óg na Gaeltachta [An examination of bilingual linguistic ability: Language acquisition of young native speakers of Irish in the Gaeltacht]. Dublin: An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta/Council for Gaeltacht and Irish-Medium Education, forthcoming.Google Scholar
Spolsky, B. (2009). Language management. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Strubell, M. (2001a). Catalan a decade later. In J.A. Fishman (Ed.), Can threatened languages be saved? Reversing language shift revisited: A 21st century perspective (pp. 260-283). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
. (2001b). Some aspects of a sociolinguistic perspective to language planning. In K. De Bot, et al. (Eds.), Institutional status and use of national languages in Europe (Special Issue of Plurilingua, 231, 91–106.Google Scholar
Walsh, J. (2011a). Contests and contexts: the Irish language and Ireland’s socio-economic development. Oxford: Peter Lang. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
. (2011b). An Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge: Ní bheidh deis níos fearr ar fáil [The 20-year strategy for the Irish language: There will not be a better opportunity]. Dublin: Comhar, 71(2): 3–6.Google Scholar
. (2011c). Dátheangachas, Idé-eolaíocht agus an Straitéis 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge [Bilingualism, ideology and the 20-year strategy for the Irish language]. In J. Kirk & D. Ó Baoill (Eds.), Strategies for minorities languages: Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland (pp. 43-56). Belfast: Cló Ollscoil na Banríona.Google Scholar
Williams, C.H. (2007). Language and governance. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.Google Scholar
. (2008). Linguistic minorities in democratic context. Basingstoke: Palgrave. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Cited by (10)

Cited by ten other publications

Lewin, Christopher
2023. Gaelic Community Development and theGàidhealtachdQuestion. Scottish Affairs 32:2 ► pp. 154 ff. DOI logo
Vulchanova, Mila, Valentin Vulchanov, Antonella Sorace, Cristina Suarez-Gomez & Pedro Guijarro-Fuentes
2022. Editorial: The Notion of the Native Speaker Put to the Test: Recent Research Advances. Frontiers in Psychology 13 DOI logo
Coakley, John
2021. Geographical retreat and symbolic advance?. Language Problems and Language Planning 45:2 ► pp. 239 ff. DOI logo
Flors-Mas, Aveŀlí, Natxo Sorolla, Miquel Àngel Pradilla & F. Xavier Vila
2021. The recent evolution of first languages in Catalonia. Language Problems and Language Planning 45:1 ► pp. 31 ff. DOI logo
Lewis, Huw & Wilson McLeod
2021. Governance, Policy-Making and Language Revitalisation. In Language Revitalisation and Social Transformation, ► pp. 343 ff. DOI logo
Ó Giollagáin, Conchúr & Iain Caimbeul
2021. Moving beyond Asocial Minority-Language Policy. Scottish Affairs 30:2 ► pp. 178 ff. DOI logo
Ceallaigh, Ben Ó
2020. Neoliberal globalisation and language minoritisation: Lessons from Ireland 2008-18. Language & Communication 75 ► pp. 103 ff. DOI logo
Edwards, John
2017. Celtic languages and sociolinguistics: a very brief overview of pertinent issues. Language, Culture and Curriculum 30:1 ► pp. 13 ff. DOI logo
Ní Chaoimh, D., S. De Bhaldraithe, G. O'Malley, C. Mac Aodh Bhuí & S.T. O’Keeffe
2015. Importance of different language versions of cognitive screening tests: Comparison of Irish and English versions of the MMSE in bilingual Irish patients. European Geriatric Medicine 6:6 ► pp. 551 ff. DOI logo
Tonkin, Humphrey
2015. Language Planning and Planned Languages: How Can Planned Languages Inform Language Planning?. Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems 13:2 ► pp. 193 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 12 august 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.