Is the Irish language being revived?

The written standard remains the same for all Irish speakers, and urban Irish speakers have made notable contributions to an extensive modern literature. The Irish-American scholar James McClosky has argued that the current (urban) Irish-language revival is in fact highly impressive if seen in perspective.

Why did the Irish language disappear?

The decline of the Irish language was the result of two factors: the Great Irish Potato Famine and the repeal of Penal Laws. The Potato Famine led to a decline in the Irish-speaking population. The repeal of Penal Law made Catholics interested in learning English as a way to get ahead in life.

When did the Irish stop speaking Irish?

It is believed that Irish remained the majority tongue as late as 1800 but became a minority language during the 19th century. It is an important part of Irish nationalist identity, marking a cultural distance between Irish people and the English.

Was the Gaelic revival successful?

Although it was more concerned with fostering the language in the home than with teaching it in schools, it was nonetheless successful in having Irish added to the curriculum; the number of schools teaching it rose from about a dozen in the 1880s to 1,300 in 1903.

What caused the Irish literary revival?

The revival was inspired by the nationalistic pride of the Gaelic revival and by the Gaelic League, which was formed in 1893 to revive the Irish language and culture. The movement developed into a vigorous literary force centered on the poet and playwright William Butler Yeats.

How has the Gaelic language changed over time?

Thanks to its efforts Irish people regained a sense of pride in their language. The ideals of the Gaelic League, while they failed to come to full fruition, had a extraordinary impact on the circumstances of the Irish language. A new standardised orthography was established for the language; a new literature came into being.

Why did the Irish language decline over the years?

Likewise, Irish weakened as less people spoke it because few people spoke it which caused fewer still to speak it. It became more and more confined to elderly speakers which discouraged young people and continued the vicious circle. As less people spoke it, less people used it for art and literature, which gave people less of a reason to learn it.

What was the purpose of the Irish language revival?

Although initial efforts were primarily directed at the preservation of the language and its ancient literature, a new awareness of the Irish language as a marker of national identity began to take hold, which led to the establishment of the language revival movement as part of the general nationalist movement.

Why do pedants like to argue about the Irish language?

Firstly, pedants like to argue over the name of the language. Essentially, Irish people call it Irish, whereas foreigners call it Gaelic or Irish Gaelic. Some Irish people dislike the name Gaelic, but it’s not incorrect, it just marks you as an outsider.