The Language Ban by Annemarie Ní Churreáin-

This week on Words That Burn, we delve into the powerful and moving poem "The Language Ban" from Annemarie Ní Churreáin's acclaimed 2021 collection, The Poison Glen.

Join me as we explore the hidden history of Irish Sign Language (ISL) and the devastating impact of its suppression.

Discover the story of St. Joseph's School for Deaf Boys in Cabra, Dublin, and how the controversial 1880 Milan Conference led to a policy of "Oralism," forcing a spoken language upon deaf children and branding their native sign language as shameful. I'll unpack Ní Churreáin's potent imagery, from the "state makers" who "banished" the signs to the demonisation of the hand itself within a deeply religious and colonial context.

This episode explores:

The dark history behind The Poison Glen and its connection to Irish folklore and the suppression of a nation's past.
The crucial difference between Irish Sign Language (ISL) and other sign languages, and how it evolved uniquely within Irish culture.
The devastating impact of the Milan Conference and the enforcement of Oralism on the Irish deaf community.
The parallels between the suppression of ISL and the historical attempts to eradicate the Irish language (Gaeilge), including the use of the "tally stick."
A deep-dive analysis of Annemarie Ní Churreáin's "The Language Ban," examining its structure, folkloric references (the hawthorn and the Salmon of Knowledge), and its powerful conclusion on the "forced grammar" imposed on a community.


Join the conversation as we discuss how poetry can unearth forgotten histories and give voice to the silenced. This is essential listening for anyone interested in Irish history, poetry, disability studies, and the enduring power of language.

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The Music In This Week's Episode:

'Incredulity' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au