New Speakers of Irish in the Global Context

<p>This volume is the first full-length publication to systematically unpack and analyze the linguistic practices and ideologies of "new speakers" specifically in an Irish language context. The book introduces the theoretical foundations of the new speaker framework as it manifests itself in the Irish setting, describes its historical precedents, and traces its evolution to today. The book then draws upon a rich set of data and research methods, including participant observation and ethnographic fieldwork to examine the new speaker phenomenon in Irish in greater detail. Areas of analysis include new speakers’ language practices and usage and the ways in which they position their linguistic identities both within their respective communities and in juxtaposition with "native" speakers. While the book’s focus is on Irish, the volume will contribute to a greater understanding of new speaker practices and ideologies in minority language contexts more generally, making this key reading for students and scholars in sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, language policy and planning, anthropology, and Irish studies. </p> <p>Contents</p><p>Acknowledgements</p><p>Figure 1 Map illustrating Language Planning Process</p><p>Figure 2 Transcription protocol</p><p>Chapter 1: Re-thinking the Sociolinguistics of Irish</p><p>Introduction</p><p>Disrupting old ideas, creating new tensions</p><p>Giving a voice to new speakers</p><p>John’s story</p><p>Bernie’s story</p><p>Outline of book</p><p>Chapter 2: New speakers, new paradigms? Building a theoretical framework</p><p>Introduction</p><p>New speaker research: origins and developments</p><p>New speakers and broader debates around language and society</p><p>Native speaker ideologies in language revitalisation movements</p><p>New speakers, new paradigms?</p><p>New speakers of minority languages: questions of authenticity, authority, and legitimacy </p><p>Rethinking new labels and frameworks</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Chapter 3: National, official and minoritised: the context and background of Irish</p><p>Introduction</p><p>Revival period and new speakers </p><p>Phases of language policy and new speakers </p><p>Gaeltacht</p><p>Legal and administrative status</p><p>Irish in the education system</p><p>Standardisation</p><p>Irish in Northern Ireland</p><p>Recent policy initiatives and Irish language networks </p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Chapter 4: Becoming a new speaker of Irish</p><p>Introduction</p><p>Fieldwork conducted by John</p><p>Clár</p><p>Karen</p><p>Roibeárd</p><p>Cian</p><p>Jason</p><p>Fieldwork conducted by Bernie</p><p>Máire</p><p>Joanne</p><p>Liam</p><p>Micheál </p><p>Jane</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Chapter 5: New speakers of Irish and identities</p><p>Introduction</p><p>Irish speakers and identities</p><p>Primary Irish-speaking identity</p><p>Irish language identity linked to standard language or dialect</p><p>Ambiguous or mixed linguistic identity</p><p>Primary English-speaking identity</p><p>Intersection of linguistic and sexual identities </p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Chapter 6: <i>Ciorcail chomhrá</i> – ‘safe spaces’ for the <i>cúpla focal</i></p><p>Introduction</p><p>The <i>ciorcal comhrá</i> phenomenon</p><p>Safe spaces and ‘breathing spaces’ for the language</p><p>New speakers at Cluain Lí</p><p>Tá cúpla focal agam – ‘I have the few words’</p><p>The <i>ciorcal comhrá</i> as a ‘safe place’ to use Irish</p><p>Expert speakers and the native speaker ideology </p><p>Beyond the <i>ciorcal comhrá</i>: the Gaeltacht as an authentic space</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Chapter 7: Conclusions</p><p>New speaker stories</p><p>Theoretical insights from the study</p><p>Policy implications</p><p>New speakers and the Gaeltacht</p><p>References</p><p>Index</p>