LL-L "Humor" 2001.11.12 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 12.NOV.2001 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: "Ian James Parsley" <parsleyij at yahoo.com>
Subject: LL-L "Humor" (was "Language varieties") 2001.11.12 (01) [E]

Folk,

This has turned into an interesting debate.

Indeed the Irish are often the butt of the joke, and
this does indeed derive from early Irish immigrant
workers to England who 'sounded funny'. There remains
a perception that they are somehow backward (enforced
by the media - I mean they couldn't resist the
quintessential 'boy with donkey' picture before the
Ireland-Iran match the other day), and as a result
visitors here are often genuinely amazed by how
advanced Ireland is.

In some ways it is irritating, but then I suspect part
of the popularity of the Irish around the world
derives from their ability to take a joke - and even
tell them against themselves.

But of course perceptions are always nasty creatures.
Jokes about Eastern Friesland may enforce an
unfortunate perception, and you could claim this is
wrong. But then the media enforces an unfortunate
perception about Northern Ireland, which is far from
the maniac-filled hole patrolled by paramilitaries
with balaclavas that the media often portrays it as.

In the end, whether it's right or wrong, you are left
to play the cards you are dealt. Could Eastern
Friesland use this unfortunate and probably undeserved
tag to its own advantage? Ireland has exploited its
perception as a great tourist tool, and North of the
border already TV programmes play on the negative
portrayal of the region from the media.

Best regards,
Ian James Parsley.

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