The final speech Hugh gives at the end of Brian Friel's "Translations" struck me as foreshadowing to future events. It seems to me that when Hugh grants Maire her wish to learn English, he is agreeing so that she can have the power of understanding the British. I don't think Hugh wishes to integrate British and Irish culture, but more so, he wants the Irish to no longer be ignorant of the people who control them.
Earlier in class today we were asked whether or not we agree more with one quote or another. ("old language is a barrier to modern progress." and "images of the past embodied in language [shape us].") It's strange how in the last act of "Translations" that Owen, who once believed that the English place-names should be used in all matters of communication, begins to revert back to Irish names. It appears the the way an old language reflects back on how we speak today is more important than I think most people realize. Although I think that language will change with time, it is important to remember the roots.
I think that if we completely ignored the original meaning behind words or their origins then we wouldn't be able to understand some of the best literature ever written or even understand important historical events. Language, old and new, should be respected equally for its influence on culture and, to some extent, history.
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