Mentor/s
Dr. Caitlin A Ross
Participation Type
Paper Talk
Abstract
This paper explores the interplay of language use, acquisition, and transmission, with a primary focus on the Irish language in Ireland and comparisons to minority languages in the United States. It delves into the historical, cultural, and societal factors including colonization, educational policies, and societal attitudes that have influenced the status of the Irish language. Through the lens of pragmatics, this analysis highlights how language serves as both a tool for communication and a carrier of cultural identity, emphasizing the importance of meaningful language use in sustaining minority languages. Comparisons to the United States illuminate parallels in challenges such as intergenerational transmission, societal pressures, and limited immersion opportunities. The findings underscore the necessity of intentional efforts to maintain and revitalize minority languages within dominant linguistic cultures.
Keywords: Irish language, language acquisition, language transmission, minority languages, cultural identity, pragmatics, language revitalization, societal attitudes
College and Major available
Communication Disorders
Academic Level
Graduate student
Location
Session 8: Digital Commons & Martire 257
Start Day/Time
4-24-2025 3:30 PM
End Day/Time
4-24-2025 4:45 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Prize Categories
Most Scholarly Impact or Potential, Most Creative, Best Writing
Use It or Lose It: Examining the Language Use, Acquisition, and Transmission of Irish in Ireland and Minority Languages in the United States Through Study Abroad
Session 8: Digital Commons & Martire 257
This paper explores the interplay of language use, acquisition, and transmission, with a primary focus on the Irish language in Ireland and comparisons to minority languages in the United States. It delves into the historical, cultural, and societal factors including colonization, educational policies, and societal attitudes that have influenced the status of the Irish language. Through the lens of pragmatics, this analysis highlights how language serves as both a tool for communication and a carrier of cultural identity, emphasizing the importance of meaningful language use in sustaining minority languages. Comparisons to the United States illuminate parallels in challenges such as intergenerational transmission, societal pressures, and limited immersion opportunities. The findings underscore the necessity of intentional efforts to maintain and revitalize minority languages within dominant linguistic cultures.
Keywords: Irish language, language acquisition, language transmission, minority languages, cultural identity, pragmatics, language revitalization, societal attitudes
Students' Information
Taylor McPadden
First Year Graduate Student, Speech Language Pathology
May 2026
Winner, Best Writing 2025 Award