Did you know?

The dialect of English spoken in Ireland, Hiberno- English, is heavily influenced by the Irish language. The following phrases would seem unfamiliar to speakers from outside the country:

I do be there often. (I’m often there.)
I’m after doing it. (I’ve just done it.)
I have the work done. (I’ve done the work.)
He gave out to her. (He told her off.)

Irish lacks words that directly translate as yes or no, and instead repeats the verb in a question to answer that question. Speakers of Hiberno-English tend to do the same and consequently use yes and no less frequently than speakers of other dialects. Here are two examples:

“Are you coming back tomorrow?” – “I am.”
“Is it a good film?” – “It’s not.”