Múnlaí teanga na Gaeilge agus an idé-eolaíocht teanga

Language models and language ideologies in relation to Irish

Abstract

Cíorann an t-alt seo na múnlaí teanga atá i réim sa Ghaeilge .i. na spriocanna don teanga a nglactar leo sa lá inniu. Déantar anailís ar na múnlaí teanga atá intuigthe san anailís teangeolaíochta agus i gcáipéisí curaclaim na Gaeilge ón réamhscolaíocht go dtí an ollscolaíocht. Féachtar ina dhiaidh sin ar na hidé-eolaíochtaí teanga ar a bhfuil na múnlaí sin bunaithe agus ar na tuiscintí a chuireann siad in iúl maidir leis an rud is teanga ann. Ceistítear roinnt de na tuiscintí seanbhunaithe ar an rud is Gaeilge agus Gaeilge mhaith ann sa lá inniu. Ar deireadh, cuirtear moltaí i láthair maidir leis an tslí a bhfaighfí múnlaí teanga na Gaeilge a athshamhlú don aonú aois is fiche.

This article examines dominant language models in Irish, i.e. the target language varieties of Irish that are deemed most acceptable today. The language models implicit in linguistic analyses and in Irish language curriculum documents from preschool to university level are analysed. The ideologies on which those models are based and the implicit understandings of what constitutes ‘a language’ are examined. Some long-established ideas about what Irish is and what good Irish should look like are questioned. Finally, recommendations are made about how language models for Irish might be reimagined for the twenty-first century.