Irish Studies

MODERN IRISH

By N OLLAIG MAc C ONGAIL, Department ofModem Irish, University College, Galway

LANGUAGE I. GENERAL P. A. Breatnach, 'A note on the syntax of the particle dar', Eigse, 27, I993: I 30-32, discusses a syntactic feature of a Classical Irish eulogy. T. de Bhaldraithe, 'N6tai arfhocail', ib., I33-38, tackles the meaning, spelling, and origin of the words pliardca, ceairliciu, geaileas, and rabUn, all of which derive from English words. D. McManus, 'An Nua• Ghaeilge Chlasaiceach', Stair na Gaeilge, ed. Kim McCone et al. (henceforth Stair), Roinn na Sean-Ghaeilge, Colaiste, Phadraig, xxiv + 905 pp., has a series of contributions. Maigh Nuad (335-445), outlines the sources and terms of reference he uses when discussing Classical Modern Irish before presenting a very detailed discussion of its various characteristics. ld., 'Teanga an Dana agus teanga an phr6is', LCC, 24: I I4-35, discusses the particular conflict between the standard language of the Dan Direach and the linguistic freedom of the other literary genres as,well as the general conflict between old and new linguistic forms. C. 0 Baoill, 'Gaelic ichthyonymy: studying the terms used for fish in Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx', ZCP, 46: I 64-99, highlights the need to record the old local names for fish and, to stimulate interest in this area, sets out the names of some fish and examines their history and distribution in Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx. A. 6 Canainn, 'Reamhaithriseoireacht, cainniochtaiocht agus briseadh gaoithe', Comhar, 53· I I : 4-I 2, reviews the history and present unsatisfactory state of specialized Irish terminology and recommends h9w this important area of research could be better addressed. C. 0 Hainle, '0 chaint na ndaoine go dti an Caighdean Oifigiuil', Stair, 745-93, traces the long and tortuous history of the from its oral, regional state to its literate, literary, standardized, more homogeneous state in the present day. G. Stockman, 'An Chopail II', An tUltach, 71.I: I6, 'Gaeilge v an Ghaeilge', ib., 71. 2:II-I2, 'Is e mo bharuil/thuairim', ib., 3:26, 'Meid agus oiread', ib., 71. 5: I g-2o, discusses the aforementioned topics which are often misunderstood or misused by learners, native speakers or writers oflrish.

2. DIALECT STUDIES J. J. Duran, 'The Irish language in Aran', pp. 253-60 of The Book of A ran: the Aran Islands, Co. Galway, ed. John Waddell et al., Tir Eolas, Modern Irish Co. Galway, 334 pp., surveys some of the internal characteristics of the dialect of the Aran islands, compares the dialect spoken there with that of the mainland and assesses the present state of Irish on the islands. A. Hughes, 'Gaeilge Uladh', Stair, 6w-6o, discusses the history and substance of the Ulster dialect debate and proceeds to give a detailed overview of . Id., 'A phonetic glossary of Tyrone Irish', ZCP, 46: I I ~3, presents a glossary which appears to reflect the Irish dialect of Tyrone as spoken in the first half of this century. He further outlines the history of the ownership and provenance of the material while adding a cautionary note about its t9tal authenticity. W. Mahon, 'First plural mar in ', Eigse, 27, I993: 8I-88, cites some early examples of mar as a pronoun in Connacht Irish and explores how common -(e),amaris as a preterite, synthetic termination in the present century. B. 0 Cathain, 'N6ta ar r in ait n i nGaeilge Arann', ib., 98-IOo, notes that H. Pedersen attests to the fact that he ~eard n pronounced as r in certain consonant clusters in Aran. R. 0 h Uiginn, 'Gaeilge Chonnacht', Stair, 53~09, presents a general survey of the main characteristics of Connacht Irish based mainly on dialect monographs and other secondary sources. G. Stockman, 'The sounds of Ulster Irish: a guide for non-Irish speakers', Ulster Folklift, 40:39-48, provides an approxi• mate guide to the pronunciation ofUlster Irish which is based mainly on the sounds of Ulster English. S. Ua Suilleabhain, 'Gaeilge na Mumhan', Stair, 479-538, presents a detailed account of the Irish dialects ofMunster. N. Williams, 'Na canuinti a theacht chun Solais', ib., 446-78, examines in detail that corpus of which was written in the period I6oo-I85o to establish what evidence of dialect it affords. He also examines that same source for evidence on Leinl)ter dialects.

3· SociOLINGUISTics ]. Blake, 'Tuarascail ar theanga: language report', Eire-Ireland, 29.4: I6I-68, assesses the present state of the Irish language with particular reference to the educational system and the media in general. Diarmuid Breathnach and Maire Ni ¥hurchu, J882-1982: Beathaisneis a Ceathair, An Cl6chomhar, Baile Atha Cliath, I9I pp., present this fourth part in the series of short biographies of people connected with the Gaelic world in Ireland during the past century. P. Breatnach, 'Gaelphobail an clara cead agus an clara hAliyah', Comhar, 53· I: 22-27, warns that the centenary celebrations of the Gaelic League might well presage its wake unless action is taken immediately to address the League's original aims. M. Cronin, 'Movie-shows from Babel: translation and the Irish language', lrR,