Language

I have actually read this book before, in the fall semester of my senior year, and something I remember talking about a lot is that the playwright, Brian Friel, wanted us to recognize the importance of language in this book. There are many references to four languages in particular, Latin, Greek, Irish (gaelic I'm assuming), and English. All the characters so far know Irish, since obviously the play was originally written in the language.
Something I find amusing is when Bridget is talking on page 19 about how the new national school will not teach in Irish, and they will only teach in English, and the fact that this book is written in English. Also, Jimmy Jack Cassidy and Hugh are the only ones who know Latin and Greek fluently, and Maire knows only one line of English her aunt taught her when she was younger. Manus seems to know some Latin and Greek, but does not speak it frequently like Jimmy does. He only uses it when Jimmy bothers him about the translation of something, like Jimmy is giving Manus a constant quiz of knowledge. Clearly, because we are given so much information about language, and what languages each character can speak (or not speak at all like Sarah) whereas normally we wouldn't get this information in a play, it is a key part of Translations.