Slanguage a Dictionary of Irish Slang [Paperback]

B Share (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1997

'Slanguage' is an exceptional book of reference. It is a guide to the unofficial language of the 32 counties of Ireland, the language of the streets and pubs, but also of much of Irish literature from Swift to Roddy Doyle. It is the dictionary that lists and explains the words and phrases that Irish people actually use. Each entry is explained in normal dictionary style and the origin of each word or phrase is identified where possible. Subtleties of colloquial usage are illustrated by wide-ranging examples from many recorded sources. Whether you are a decent skin or a crawthumper, a horse-protestant, a hard chaw or a strong farmer, this book is for you. 'Slanguage' is full of fun, information, devilment and crack. It is also a unique piece of scholarship that captures and celebrates the vigorous and inventive world of Irish popular speech.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Absolutely essential for anyone who is Irish or wants to understand us, this is a wild collection of off-the-wall phrases used in literature, drama, poetry, newspaper journalism and everyday speech. You'd sort of know what the word 'ullagoning' meant if you came across it in a sentence - somebody moaning and groaning and droning on - because it's onomatopoeic, but it's good to have it defined. And you might know what a Yahoo was but again it's good to be able to put it in context, from Dean Swift to Sean O'Casey and beyond. Review by Maeve Binchy, author of 'Tara Road', 'Evening Class' and 'The Glass Lake'. (Kirkus UK) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Bernard Share is a critic, writer and teacher living in County Kildare. He is a former editor of the Aer Lingus in-flight magazine and the author of a number of books, including 'The Emergency', a witty account of life in neutral Ireland during World War II; a history of Aer Lingus; and three novels. He is editor of 'Far Green Fields', an anthology of 1,500 years of Irish travel writing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 325 pages
• Publisher: Gill Macmillan Ltd(rep Irela (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0717126838
• ISBN-13: 978-0717126835
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #485,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Irish

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Collection of Irish Colloquial Words, March 5, 2005

By 

M. G. SFAELLOU "Platanos" (Greece) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Slanguage a Dictionary of Irish Slang (Paperback)

Unfortunately, the word 'slang' has become misused to mean a body of language that refers to sexual and often perverted practices. This collection does NOT use the word 'slang' in that narrow modern context. Here 'slang' is used merely in the sense of 'vulgar' in its etymological sense (i.e. to refer to 'common'colloquial forms of the language). Infact what is so interesting is that the entries, even for the Irish themselves are not all that common. The reader can find so much that is new on every single page. This is an exellent collection of Hiberno-English (Irish English) vocabulary. The author often provides the etymology from the actual Irish language (as opposed to Irish/Hiberno-English) and also locates certain words that were coined (or used ) by writers by quoting judicious extracts showing the original context of such terms. Another important point is that the words do not usually refer to ordinary translateable concepts but are often fascinating examples of unique terms that cover concepts in Irish folklore, history or everyday life for which there is no equivalent. This collection will be enjoyed not only by the Irish but by any serious specialist in dialects of the English language. A masterpiece!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointingly localized, April 21, 2011

By 

martb40 - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Slanguage a Dictionary of Irish Slang (Paperback)

This book goes into much detail of the slang, sayings and dialect in Ireland, IF you are solely interested in the northern part of the country. The author obviously did their research in Ulster and sadly neglected the largest area of the island. In localizing his search to this small area they have made shortchanged their readers. They neglected to take anything from places like Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, all places with a wealth of slang all of their own. As well as these places, they omitted the more general slang that is used across the country as a whole. My wife and I were sadly disappointed with this badly put together, badly researched, badly localized waste of paper!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bernard Share is to be Highly Commended for a Valuable Reference..., February 1, 2006

By 

suibhne "Beatha agus Slainte!" (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slanguage: A Dictionary of Irish Slang (Paperback)

If you have the time and/or inclination to incorporate the minutiae validating a myriad of "Irish Slang Terms," archaic and/or contemporary, this is the tome for you! "Slanguage" is EXACTLY as the title implies: a dictionary. B. Share is to be highly commended for having taken extreme measures to provide a reference work that is extensive in scope, cross-referenced, as well as based on scholarly citations. It is an excellent reference work to supplement any interest and/or study of "slang" attributed to, or regarding, the Irish. This book is written in the English language for the faint-hearted, and knowledge of Irish Gaelic is not necessary to enjoy and/or employ any and/or all of the cited words and/or phrases. A few Irish Gaelic words so citical to some idioms are present, and their meanings are immediately contextually present. In all of critcal acclaim that rightfully belongs to "Slanguage: A Dictionary of Irish Slang," buyer beware: It IS as it proclaims itself to be: a dictionary.