The Irish Language in the United States: A Historical, Sociolinguistic, and Applied Linguistic Survey

by Thomas Ihde

Overview

Many Irish-Americans feel like outsiders when the topic turbans to the Irish language. This collection of essays will inform them of the history of the language in America, the role this language plays in Irish-American identity, and the best way to go about learning it. The sociolinguistic essays concentrate on Irish as an American ethnic language, including interviews with native Irish speakers in the United States today, surveys of Irish usage, and an examination of letters by immigrants back to Ireland in the nineteenth century. Applied linguistic essays describe the Irish language student population in the United States, survey materials and methods used to teach Americans, and tell the story of one Irish language teacher in California whose work has led to great personal satisfaction and considerable Irish-American group solidarity. This is the first major work in English on the Irish language in America.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780897893312
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/30/1993
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.44(d)
Lexile:	1310L (what's this?)

About the Author

THOMAS W. IHDE is a dual citizen of Ireland and the United States. He has degrees from the University of Dublin and St. Mary's University and teaches linguistics as an Adjunct at Montclair State College. He also serves in the Little Falls, NJ public school system as a language arts teacher. His research involves first and second language acquisition, bilingual education, and the relationship between language and identity.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Scholarly Articles
The Irish Language in America by Lynn McGowan
Douglas Hyde and the United States by Risteárd Ó Glaisne
The Irish Language in Pennsylvania by Joseph Callahan
Irish as an American Ethnic Language by Jeffrey L. Kallen
A Native Speaker in the United States: Pádruig Mac a' Ghoill Discusses the Popularity and Teaching of Irish by Roslyn Blyn
Emigrant Letters from the Donegal Gaeltacht by Gréagóir Ó Dúill
A Survey of Irish Usage among Immigrants in the United States by Lynn McGowan
Irish-Language Students: Needs and Goals by Thomas W. Ihde
Irish-Language Acquisition: Teaching Materials and Approaches by Thomas W. Ihde
The Communicative Approach: Theory, Materials, and Assessment by Thomas W. Ihde
Teaching Irish in California: A Personal, Sociolinguistic, and Applied Linguistic Retrospective by James J. Duran
Personal Essays
"Gaeltacht Weekends" by Ethel Brogan
The Gaelic League: Pittsburgh Branch by Pádraig Coyne
Teaching Irish to Americans in Milwaukee by Dennis Doyle
Irish-Language Mass by Elizabeth O'Keefe Macey
An Teanga Mharthanach—The Dream and the Vision by Treasa NÍ Laoi
Teaching the Irish Language in the New York Area by Riobárd Ó Cinnéide
Our Own Language by Caitlín UÍ Mhurchadha and Liam Ó Murchadha
Glossary
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Idhe was a student of applied linguistics at Trinity College in Dublin, and though he spoke several languages adeptly, he could not for the life of him master Irish. He wondered if he had some deficiency, if the language was innately difficult, if the teaching techniques were faulty, or what else might be wrong. He started writing to everyone he could think of in the US asking for their experiences and perspectives. The most informative responses comprise this anthology. Among the topics are the history of the Irish language in America, Irish as an ethnic language, methods and results of teaching, letters from Ireland, and the Irish Mass. Includes a glossary without pronunciation. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews