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.

摘要

在后殖民时代，语言仍然是一个备受争议的话题。学术界和作家都努力定义在后殖民时代应使用哪种语言以及这种选择的影响。两种趋势很普遍。殖民者舌头的批评者认为，使用殖民地语言提供了殖民探索的连续性，重现了其思想观念和等级制度。将殖民地语言用作废除工具的反对者断言，这提供了双重机会：该语言表达了后殖民社会的细微差别，同时吸引了更多的读者。尽管人种学上的特点，爱尔兰也不例外。但是，讨论主要集中在爱尔兰作家的最新作品上，直到十九世纪初才被排除在外。通过分析詹姆斯·克拉伦斯·曼根