Ireland as Gaeilge

Olga Balaeva

• 21 december 2017
• 9781786050427

Samenvatting:

Are you confused by all the Irish language signs you see around you? Do you wonder if and when the Irish actually speak Irish? After spending thirteen years learning Irish in school, why do so few Irish people actually speak it?

Ireland as Gaeilge tells the story of the Irish language in a popular and engaging way, combining historical and linguistic facts with a light tone. Written by a Russian linguist living in Ireland, it gives an outsider’s perspective on this most national of subjects. Ireland as Gaeilge:

• Explains the impact of Irish history on the fortunes of the Irish language
• Discusses the present state of the language
• Looks at everyday manifestations of Irish in Irish society
• Explores the linguistic peculiarities of Irish and how the English and Irish languages have influenced each other
• Examines the role of Irish in the international arena

Ireland as Gaeilge will appeal to tourists, especially those with Irish connections, long-term visitors/residents (international students and professionals) and Irish people who are less familiar with the Irish language and are willing to give it a second chance.

Olga Balaeva is an English language teacher living in Dublin. Born in Moscow in 1989, she completed a Bachelor’s Degree in European Languages and Literature at Moscow State University, which was followed by a Master’s Degree in English Language at Oxford University. The focus of her studies was on bilingualism in Ireland. Olga is a member of the Conradh na Gaeilge Irish language conversation group and she also holds a TEG certificate in Irish (B1) from Maynooth University.