Product Description

August 1833 - the first Royal Ordnance Survey is translating the local Gaelic place names of the townland of Baile Beag in County Donegal into English, with far reaching personal and cultural effects for the small group involved.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5592 in Books
• Published on: 1981-04-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 72 pages

Customer Reviews

Translations review by Leenie
Translations now firmly holds a place on A-level and University reading lists everywhere and rightly so. It's a beautiful play which focuses on the potential erosion of Irish Culture along with the eradication of the Gaelic Language and Irish place names, by British troops. However, you don't need to be clued-up on Irish politics to enjoy translations. The moving union between an Irish Speaking Country Girl and a British Solider proves that love only knows one language.

What about an audio-book for it?
Brian Friel's play "Translations"is most certainly a great read but why isn't there a published recording of it? All students of English, native or foreign, who are interested in languages must read it. However, I'm stunned that in this day and age when most published works have their audio versions, this play of all books, apparently hasn't one accompanying it. I understand that in this play the voices and accents with their intermingling of Latin, Greek, English and Gaelic play an important role. As a French national, I would certainly appreciate listening to it, simply because of all the Gaelic place names whose pronounciation must be known for the play to be enjoyed thoroughly; it'd certainly make sense.

Not 'about' anything and better for it!
From the outset, this might seem like a play chiefly mourning the decline of Irish culture due to the English. If it was as simple and, frankly, boring as this then I wouldn't like it, let alone rate it 5 stars. For me though, this play isn't really 'about' this or anything else. Friel is notorious for refusing to tell people what the 'point' of his plays are and that is probably because with Translations he is not attempting to 'make a point' or argue one view, but to explore various issues without trying to give a definite 'answer'.

The way I see it the purpose of Translations is to present to the mind of the audience members ideas or views which they then can digest and reflect on. This includes issues in the philosophy of language, identity, morality and politics. People have got to realize that Friel is not saying "what the English did was wrong" or "a culture's original language is part of its identity" or "meaning can never be properly translated from one language to another" but to put these and their opposing views out there and create a point of reference for discussion. This ambiguous 'post-modernist' approach ensures the play is not a one-trick pony, it makes it re-readable and perfect for study.

Mistaking views being raised for reflection as Friel expressing personal views leads to a simplistic appreciation of this play which would understandably lead to a poor review. For those reviewers who feel there's not enough action I say this play is not a play of action. And for those reviewers who say the characters are stereotypes I say they obviously skipped the parts with Yolland in them (as well as the fact that in drama arhetypal characters can be used to great effect).

This is, quite simply, a great play.