Béarlachas
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Béarlachas is an Irish term describing a variety of Irish language phrases perceived to be excessively influenced by English. This influence may vary between simple anglicisms to a process of pidginization. It is a result of language contact.
Béarlachas exists in many forms, from the gaelicisation of English phrases to the common form of conjugating an English verb using Irish grammar rules, or attaching common Irish suffixes to the English words. [1][2]
"Táim ag runáil go dtí an siopa" (I'm running towards the shop) is an example of Béarlachas as "runáil" is not an Irish word, but the English word "run" with the Irish suffix áil attached, and should instead be substituted "rith"
Calquing also occurs: an English phrase is literally translated into Irish, even though an equivalent Irish phrase already exists. [3]
"Moilligh Síos" (Slow down - calqued from English), instead of the more correct "Maolaigh ar do luas" (reduce your velocity).
Many Béarlachas words have become common in the Irish language, for example:
- liosta: list
- aidhm: aim (where cuspóir already exists, and aidhm being a gaelicisation of the English word)
- praghas: price
- fón: phone (where guthán already exists)
- dabht: doubt (where amhras and gó already exist)
- halla: hall (where áras already exists. Also H does not occur at the beginning of a word in Irish unless of a mutation).
- ceint (Irish pronunciation: [sˠɛnʲtʲ]): cent, this creating an unusual spelling as the soft "C" does not exist in Irish. "Soint" is often suggested as an acceptable spelling.
Letters that are not traditionally used in Irish orthography occur (such as J K Q V W X Y Z and H at the beginning of words):
- Véarsa: Verse (where rann already exists)
- Jab: Job (where post already exists)
- Zú: Zoo (where gairdín ainmhithe already exists)
Between the 1970s and 1990s Republican prisoners in Long Kesh prison spoke in Irish. They nicknamed the place "An Jailtacht", a portmanteau combining the Irish "Gaeltacht" (Irish speaking region), and the English "jail".[4]
The republican slogan "Tiocfaidh ár lá" (Our day will come) is a form of Béarlachas, more idiomatic equivalents being "Beidh ár lá linn"(Our day will be with us) or "Beidh ár lá againn" (We will have our day).
