This term paper will deal with the culture of Ireland referring to the idiosyncratic cultural norms of it.
Since the relationship between the big topic and the space at my disposal can best be described as unproportional (to say the least), it will, in the end, remain but a very concise (and perforce, somewhat superficial) overlook rather than an in-depth study. One reason for the inadequacy lies in the fact that there are notable divides between the rural people and city dwellers, Catholics and Protestants, Norne Irons (Northern Irelanders) and Irelanders from the Republic, and the Irish-speaking people inside and outside the Gaeltacht (Gaelic speaking regions) and the English-speaking majority population. The culture of the Irish is, thus, far from being homogeneous. In order to meet the conditions of a description of the manifestations of Ireland’s culture at different levels nonetheless, I used Geert Hofstede’s ‘onion diagram’ (hence the title) as a guideline and worked through the layers from the outside to the core (cf. Hofstede 1991: 9). Thus, I will deal with Ireland’s symbols first, move on to its heroes, describe some of the rituals, eventually shed some light at the cultural values and close with displaying some of the more common stereotypes.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Abstract
- Symbols
- Gaelic
- The Flag
- The Shamrock
- Irish Coffee
- The Harp
- The Leprechaun
- The Celtic Cross
- The Claddagh Ring
- Heroes
- Michael Collins
- Van Morrison
- Liam Neeson
- James Joyce
- John Treacy
- Rituals
- Values
- Stereotypes
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to provide a concise overview of Irish culture, highlighting the idiosyncrasies of its cultural norms. The paper utilizes Geert Hofstede's "onion diagram" as a framework to analyze Ireland's culture from the outside in, beginning with symbols and progressing toward core values.
- The significance of national symbols in shaping Irish identity
- The influence of historical and political context on Irish culture
- The role of heroes and cultural figures in Irish society
- The cultural values and beliefs that underpin Irish society
- The prevalence and impact of stereotypes surrounding Ireland and its people
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The chapter on symbols explores the historical and cultural significance of Gaelic, the Irish flag, the shamrock, Irish coffee, the harp, the leprechaun, the Celtic cross, and the Claddagh ring. It delves into the origins of these symbols and their role in representing Irish identity and heritage.
The chapter on heroes focuses on prominent figures in Irish history, music, acting, literature, and sports. It highlights the roles of Michael Collins, Van Morrison, Liam Neeson, James Joyce, and John Treacy in shaping Irish culture and national consciousness.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this text are: Irish culture, national symbols, cultural norms, historical context, heroes, cultural figures, values, stereotypes, Gaelic language, Irish identity, and Geert Hofstede's "onion diagram."
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- Richard Grünert (Autor), 2009, The Irish 'Onion' - Intercultural Communication, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/154471
