A study of Dublin English through Dubliner Roddy Doyle and his magnificent 'The Commitments'.

1. DUBLIN ENGLISH THROUGH DUBLINER
RODDY DOYLE

2. • - IRISH ENGLISH / DUBLIN ENGLISH / LOCAL
DUBLIN ENGLISH
• - RODDY DOYLE’S BARRYTOWN TRILOGY:
The Commitments (1987, film 1991)
The Snapper (1990, film 1993)
The Van (1991, film 1997)

3. • Roddy Doyle, a Dubliner
• Dublin. South-North side.
• Local Dublin English vs. non-local Dublin
English
• Kilbarrack.

4. Scene 1

5. Dublin English
1- Phonology
2- Syntax
3- Morphology
4- Vocabulary

6. 1- Phonology
a. R-deletion
Weakly rhotic (vs. Irish English / non-local
Dublin English).
b- TH fortification
Realization of TH in the lexical set THing as an
alveolar plosive /t/ i.e. filthy, anything, tinking.
c- Vowel breaking. Long high vowels /i:/ /u:/
tend to become disyllabic i.e. mean, me.

7. d. Yod-dropping i.e. neuter, news.
e. Pronunciation /wh/ i.e. white, what.
f. /u/ in words such as Dublin, strugle, up, but.
g. Short vowels before /r/ i.e. first, circle.
h. The a in any, many tends to be rounded as a
‘short a’.
i. The /ai/ in nigth, shite.
j. ‘Clear l’. ‘Any chance for me lads?’

8. Scene 2

9. 2. Syntax
a. Less frequent use of yes, no than other English
varieties.
Are you coming? I am.
Is your bag ready? It’s not.
b. When describing a recent event:
I’m after meeting her in the café!
She’s after buying another one!
c. So used for emphasis.
you are so!

10. d. Possession indicated with a preposition.
I have the cd’s with me.
Have you got the umbrella on you?
e. End of sentences with yeah?.
You are a singer, yeah?
f. Structures like ‘I’ve got more things to be
doing the ironing’ ‘what kind of music are we
goin’ to be playin’ Jimmy?’

11. Scene 3

12. 3. Morphology
a. Distinction 2nd p.s. and 2nd p. pl. personal
pronoun. Use of archaic yous (or youse). Irish
influence.
Are youse commin’?
b. Use of yeh for you.
What are yeh doin’ here?
Howayeh Jimmy?
c. Contracted form amn’t I?

13. d. Preterite ‘done’ ‘seen’
I done it.
e. Use of will instead of shall
Will I start playin’?
f. Use of pronoun me instead of possessive my.
Me ma isn’t very well.
Can I have me paper back?

14. Scene 4

15. 4. Vocabulary
Eeijit (idiot)
Gobshite
Carrot-head
Prick
Bye now! There you go now.
Sure Jeez!
Ma/Da
Buddy
Fecking
Bananas
Too much drink: bolloxed, plastered, fucked, loaded, full as a
boot, hammered, jarred, pissed, I’m off my tits

16. Snotty-nosed
Bollocks
Fair play
Craic or crack (what’s the crack?)
Grand (I`m grand. It’s grand)
Jaysus!
Knackered
Mot
Fella
Culchie
Story (what’s the story?)
Sound
sláinte

17. Scene 5

18. Scene 6

19. Sláinte!