Product Description

The action takes place in late August 1833 at a hedge-school in the townland of Baile Beag, an Irish-speaking community in County Donegal. In a nearby field camps a recently arrived detachment of the Royal Engineers, making the first Ordnance Survey. For the purposes of cartography, the local Gaelic place names have to be recorded and rendered into English. In examining the effects of this operation on the lives of a small group, Brian Friel skillfully reveals the far-reaching personal and cultural effects of an action which is at first sight purely administrative.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3298 in Books
• Published on: 1981-04-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 72 pages

Synopsis
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.

Customer Reviews

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.

I've obviously missed the point...
I wanted to scream when I finished this book. I had sat there in endless lessons 'discussing' the intricate details of the relationships painted by Friel, only to find that this play really has no point. Now I understand that all literature needs to be 'read into' but please...NOTHING HAPPENS IN THIS PLAY. At all. It's all pretencious, sit-on-the-fence claptrap with no real messages or insights. As a previous reviewer pointed out, the irony is incredibly obvious, even to someone who doesn't study English at any level. This play is typically 'A level' material...having to discuss and literally FIND things to write about that really are a waste of paper and ink to discuss. Why anyone would want to read this out of pleasure I'll never understand. This isn't me unappreciating the 'sublties' it's that this play is over-rated. All the high-brow luvvies have simply praised it and everyone else has jumped on it. In fact I'm beginning to hate this play. The ending again...was it meant to be poignant? Something to think upon? A metaphor? Who cares. Come back when you can write about interesting characters when some life in them.

Sheer delight!
Friel's "Translations" is a brilliant book which I had the fortune to study on my A Level syllabus. It works on many levels, and whilst its layers of symbolism can seem complex to begin with, by the end of the play Friel skilfully connects the loose ends together. This is a beautiful story of language and love, as well as the power of language to deceive. I would recommend this to any fan of Anglo-Irish Literature but also as a very good read.