Untranslatable Characters: James Clarence Mangan and the English Language

Abstract

ABSTRACT Language still is a hotly debated topic in postcolonial circles. Both academics and writers strive to define which language should be used in postcolonial contexts and the impact of such choice. Two tendencies are prevalent. Detractors of the colonisers’ tongue argue that using colonial languages offers a continuum of the colonial quest, reproducing its mindset and hierarchy. Defendants of deploying colonial languages as abrogation tools assert these offer a twofold opportunity: the language expresses the nuances of postcolonial societies while reaching wider audiences. Despite its ethnographic peculiarities, Ireland is no exception to this dichotomy. The discussion has, however, mainly focused on Irish writers’ recent productions, to the exclusion of the early nineteenth century. By analysing James Clarence Mangan's attitude to language in his writings, this study shed some light on an area which deserves further study, contributing to the overall understanding of how postcolonial writers counter colonial constructions via language.