Book excerpt: The Language of Irish Literature is the first book on the market to discuss Irish Literature in terms of the history of, and the linguistic contacts in, the island. It provides a description of the development of the varieties of English in Ireland, concentrating on the input from Irish Gaelic and Scots as well as English. It examines the history of English in Ireland; the nature of Irish and of Irish Englishes; oral traditions: songs and stories; and the three main literary genres: drama, poetry and prose.