Irish English voice overs: what you need to know

In the Republic of Ireland, English is one of two official languages. In Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, there is no official language. However, English is the de facto language of government and everyday life.

Over 4.3 million people speak Irish English as their first language, and more than 275,000 people have adopted it as their second language. But even in England, Irish English is familiar to many, thanks to many years of emigration and immigration.

Language History

The Anglo-Norman invasion was a turning point in Irish history, as it marked the start of 800 years of English/British involvement in Ireland. It took place in the late 12th century and introduced the English language to Ireland.

The Irish language remained strong for generations. It was the Tudor reconquest of Ireland in the 16th century that led to a forced decline. By the 19th century, English had become the majority language and it still is today.

Learning the Irish language is now mandatory in schools and it’s become an official language of the European Union. An exciting new development to revive an ancient (and endangered) tongue.

Close Relations

Irish English is part of the Indo-European group and part of the Germanic language family. It’s close to British English in spelling and pronunciation, rather than American English. It’s also influenced by the Irish language, of course.

Accents and Voice Over Tips

There are 32 counties in Ireland (26 in the Republic and 6 in Northern Ireland). Dialect and accent vary from county to county, but the differences are minor. There are three main groups: Dublin, South-Western, and Northern Irish. (Northern is sometimes referred to as Ulster.) Accents can vary by social class/education though, as well as geography.

Famous speakers of the Dublin accent include Colin Farrell and U2. Cillian Murphy and Roy Keane represent the South-West. Liam Neeson and Van Morrison have Northern accents.

Words relating to the government will often be in the Irish language. For example, the police are known as the Gardaí. There are also grammar differences between Irish English and other variants. The Irish language doesn’t have a word for ‘yes’ or ‘no’. One difference is that answers will usually adopt the verb used in the question (‘I do’, rather than ‘yes’). It’s always wise to check that your text is localized to suit Irish word usage. If you need any help, please get in touch.

Words per minute

Like other variants of English, the average speaking pace is 150 words per minute. However, different types of recording require different speeds. Commercial content is typically read at a faster pace than educational or training content. Please feel free to reach out to us when localizing to or from Irish English.

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