Irish Langue in Film and Television, Essay Example

When examining the history of Irish films and television, one of the most interesting issues is the way that the use of language has changed over the last several decades. The earliest examples of films that featured Irish content were typically made in other countries like England, and it was not until later that Ireland developed a film and television industry of its own.  Over the course of the years in the middle and end of the 230^th century the use of the Irish language in films and television is closely linked to the social, economic, and political issues of the times in which these programs were made.

Some early examples of this can be seen in the sports films that were produced in the years after World War II, where Irish Football matches were filmed and shown in native Irish language. Sports were an important part of Irish culture, and these films were some of the first times that the Irish language was used in this way. Although Ireland had gained independence, the countries of Ireland and England were still closely linked, and Ireland did not yet have its own film industry. Having films even if they were sort ones, that showed these sports matches with Irish language broadcasters was an important step in Irish declaring its cultural independence from England.

In the 1950s the Irish government produced a number of educational films that were specifically intended to reach audiences that spoke the Irish langue. In the decades after World War II the country of Ireland was going through a period of modernization as it worked to catch up with England, Europe, and other parts of the world. Many parts of Ireland were still rural and did not always have plumbing and electricity, while the urban ears were rapidly modernizing. The government made educational films about such issues as vaccinations against various diseases and things that modern societies take for granted, such and establishing bank accounts and balancing checkbooks and household budgets. It was important to produce these films in the Irish language to ensure that they reached audiences who might otherwise not have access to such information.

By the 1970s the country of Ireland had developed its own film and television industries and no longer relied on foreign studios to produce films and television shows.  It was now common for films and shows to be made using the Irish language, and some challenging films were produced in this era. One example of this is CaoineadhAirtUíLaoire, which was based on an old Irish lament. What makes this film so interesting is the way that it uses both the Irish and English languages to address some of the political and social issues of the times. In the story, a group of people are seen making a film, with the actors speaking among themselves in Irish and the director speaking to them in English. This use of langue is intended to provide insight into the nature of the relationship between England and Ireland at the time. Even though Ireland was an independent nation, England still had a powerful influence in Ireland.

These are just some examples of how Irish films and television programs have reflected important themes of the times in which they were made. As Ireland’s film and television industries evolved, the use of the Irish language became more widely embraced, and now plays a central role in many movies and shows. This demonstrates that the Irish have gone from being seen as subservient to England to being proud of the cultural heritage. By examining the history of how language has been used in Irish language film and television it is possible to see how the country itself evolved to adapt to a rapidly changing modern world. In the early years of these film and television productions, the emphasis was on the English language, as if the Irish language was just a relic of the past. Now, in the 21^st century, Ireland has become its own nation, and embraced its language and heritage while also looking ahead to the future.