An Introduction to Hiberno-

English
The Irish use of the English Language

Ann Marie OBrien

Dublin 2017
 Hiberno-English
ever since English was forcibly
introduced to this island, the people who
live here have defiantly spoken it in their
own way, with their own rhythms and
cadences and meanings and nuances.

Joseph OConnor, writer

 Aims of Workshop
To show that Hiberno-English is a
distinctive way of speaking English in
Ireland

To present examples of Hiberno-English

grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation
 Objectives
To explain what Hiberno-English is

To state the meaning of Hiberno-English

words

To identify examples of Hiberno-English

 Story Bud?

Access this short video on You

Tube

http://bit.ly/1OkrNCE
 Story Bud?
Angry Lost the rag/threw the head
Hello Story bud/theres head the ball
House Gaff
Drink Going for a jar
Hungry Im starvin/Im ravenous
Exhausted Absolutely knackered
Embarrassed Scarlet for you/morto
Brilliant Thats savage/thats deadly
Disbelief Stop the lights/janey mack
 Hiberno-English
The language of every day use in Ireland, a
mixture of Irish and English

Hibernia = Ireland

Hiberno = it is a Latin word meaning winter,

used as a prefix to describe things related
to Ireland
 Examples of Hiberno-English
Amnt I going now?

The bag was stolen on me

Im after closing the door

Dont be worrying
 The examples in Standard
English
Amnt I going now?(HE) = Arent I going now?
(SE)

The bag was stolen on me (HE) = My bag was

stolen (SE)

Im after closing the door (HE) = I have closed

the door (SE)

Dont be worrying (HE) = Dont worry (SE)

 History of the English language in
Ireland
English in use in Ireland since 12th Century
Pressure to speak English for practical
reasons from 17th Century
Became known as Hiberno-English
because it used a mix of English and Irish
words with Irish pronunciation and
grammar
Use of English encouraged by particular
historical events, laws & historical
institutions from 18th Century
 Examples of Hiberno-English
The mammy is at home

Shes a ciotg

It was great craic

 The examples in Standard
English
The mammy is at home (HE) = My mother
is at home (SE)

Shes a ciotg (HE) = Shes left-handed

(SE)

It was great craic (HE) = It was great fun/It

was very enjoyable
 Irish vocabulary
Cpla focal = A couple of words

Ceol agus craic = music and entertainment

Siopa = Shop

Sin scal eile = thats another story

 Hiberno-English vocabulary
Hows she Hello/How are things?
cutting/cuttin?

Drownded Soaking wet

Yoke Thing

Eejit Idiot
 Hiberno-English vocabulary
Spuds Potatoes

Sambo Sandwich

Chipper Takeaway

Lad Boy/young man

Togs Swim suit

 Hiberno-English vocabulary
Identify the meaning of the emboldened text in
each sentence.
1. When the paperwork was all done and dusted
I went home.
2. Due to work pressures the project had to be
put on the long finger.
3. Im going to chance my arm and apply for the
job.
4. Someone needs to put manners on that child
before she gets herself into serious trouble.
5.Because she had a soft spot for her grandfather
she visited him often.
 Hiberno-English vocabulary
6. The vase smashed into smithereens
when it hit the floor.
7. The city was black with people just
before Christmas day.
8. Hes a dab hand at woodwork. Look at
the beautiful table that he made.
9. I gave out to him for breaking the
window.
10. I let on that I was upset.
 Pronunciation
d for th de, dat, dose

th is problematic ting, nort, tree for three

g dropped goin, walkin, runnin

Extra vowel between r and m, l and m

farim, filim

s added to plural second person pronoun

Yous
 Give Up Yer Aul Sins

http://bit.ly/1OmBiBg
 Give Up Yer Aul Sins
Raging = angry

Thrun = Threw

Young one = Child or young person

Common = Having bad manners/unrefined

 Hiberno-English
The language of every day use in Ireland, a
mixture of the Irish and English languages

Hiberno-English makes use of Irish

grammar, the pronunciation system of
the Irish language and English and Irish
vocabulary
Revision time
 The future of Hiberno-English
Continuing to grow as a language

Becoming more Americanised

A Chinese type of Hiberno-English

possible in the future
 References
A Dictionary of Hiberno-English: 3 by
Terence Dolan (2012)
or
A Dictionary of Hiberno-English by
Terence Dolan (2006)

Slanguage: A Dictionary of Irish Slang and

Colloquial English in Ireland by Bernard
Share (2008)