Abstract
This article analyses data from a very popular radio comedy sketch show in Ireland in order to shed light on the ways in which the comedy harnesses, reflects and refracts attitudes towards language ownership, identity and practice in the Republic of Ireland. The specific focus is on a type of sketch in which a certain type of code-mixing and the politics of language in Ireland are central to the comic appeal of the sketch. We highlight some of the most salient aspects of language choice and use in Ireland today and we argue that the comedy in question, in particular the pragmatics of the codeswitching and mixing, can only be fully understood if it is situated within the wider context of the current status of Irish. We analyse how the comedy constructs the participants and the audience in relation to identity and language and we find that the attitudes conveyed in this construction are highly ambivalent as regards ownership and use of Irish.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
