Irish English or Hiberno English?

The term Hiberno English has a rich history dating back to the 18th century. It originated as a descriptive term used by linguists and scholars to distinguish the English spoken in Ireland from standard British English. The term “Hiberno” comes from the Latin “Hibernia,” meaning Ireland, and was initially used to describe the style of literature produced in Ireland and later its distinctive pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Over time, the term has evolved to encompass not only the language spoken in Ireland but also the cultural and historical context in which it developed. However, despite its historical significance and widespread use among Irish people, the term Hiberno-English is no longer widely used among scholars of global colonial languages. Instead, researchers have moved on to more inclusive categorizations that recognize the complex dynamics of globalization and the systemic prejudices of the colonial project.

1601 map of Hibernia

The nomenclature of global colonial languages is a complex and contentious subject, grappling with the legacy of systemic linguicism. The term “linguicism” refers to the bias or prejudice against certain languages or language varieties, often perpetuated by dominant language ideologies. The history of colonialism has left an enduring impact on the way languages are named, categorized, and perceived, resulting in a patchwork of inconsistent and often problematic terminology. For example, the English language as spoken in England is just called English, while other varieties are hyphenated. Additionally, across the Anglosphere, the English language as use by white speakers is referred to as English, or treated as the default setting from which all other varieties are derived. In light of these systemic prejudices, having equal terminology to refer to all varieties of English is devoutly to be desired, in order to not continue to reinforce colonial linguistic hierarchies.

National modifiers is the current system, allowing scholars to talk about Nigerian English, Canadian English and Indian English on equal footing. However, this system is not without its flaws. Country names can be problematic when describing the language of communities that have been displaced or dispossessed by colonial powers. For instance, indigenous communities may not welcome terminology which subsumes their unique language and culture under colonial or neocolonial frameworks. For many people in Ireland, the phrase “Irish English” is not a pleasing combination due to the tense history between the countries those two words represent. Calling Michif- an indigenous language spoken by the Métis people- Métis French, Indigenous French or a variety of Canadian French gains some ground in treating all language as equal, but loses ground in terms of speakers’ self-identification.

Moreover, the use of national modifiers elevates the notion that geography is the most significant contributor to language variation. Class, race, education, age, multilingualism, and other social factors all play significant roles in shaping linguistic practices. For example, Brazilian Portueguese and Angolan Portueguese do not just exhibit notable differences in vocabulary and grammar, but they also have been shaped by different local languages and shared, but different, colonial pasts.

Though national designations serve as convienient modifiers, they are best treated as umbrella categories for discussing language as unmoored from speech communities. To avoid oversimplifying the nuances of language use, a variety of language descriptors must be acknowledged. Irish English and Hiberno-English can both exist for different uses, along with a number of other designations such county and city-based terms like Ulster English and Belfast English.

The colonial project was constructed on the back of deep linguistic biases, one of which is prejudice towards who is allowed to be a true speaker of language. To counteract these strucutral inequalities today, it is paramount to establish an equal playing field for discussing language variation. However, it is also essential to acknowledge how people refer to their languages, as these self-designations are deeply tied to their identity. The term Zimbabwean English has its place, for example, but it should not be externally imposed on those who prefer to call their language Zim, for example. The linguistic landscape of global colonial languages remains complex and tricky to categorize, and any terminology requires a nuanced understanding of the intersections between geography, culture, history and identity.