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Dialect
Explanation and Analysis—Och:
Malachy Sr. uses the word "och" repeatedly to express his helplessness and frustration in moments of grief and hardship. For example, he repeats it several times as Frank describes his parents’ very different reactions to the death of his brother Oliver:
Dad stands facing the wall over the fire, beating on his thighs with his fists, sighing, Och, och, och. Dad frightens me with his och, och, och, and Mam frightens me with her small bird sounds and I don’t know what to do.
There’s no specific meaning to the word “och,” which is the Scottish and Northern Irish version of the English word “oh.” It is essentially an empty vocalization, one that’s often used to convey a vague sense of acknowledgment or resignation. The word “och” is part of Malachy Sr.’s Northern Irish dialect, the same accent that sets him apart from the Limerick community and causes them to shun the McCourts. Malachy Sr., in short, says “och” when he doesn’t know what else to say. This use of dialect without meaning shows his inability to articulate his feelings fully. As Angela sobs out “small bird sounds,” Malachy’s use of “och” and his beating his hands on his thighs suggests that he has no idea what to do. He does not have the language to confront the pain of losing a child or to comfort his wife.
It's important to note too that where “Och” appears in the novel more broadly, it also signals the hurdles Malachy Sr. faces as a man from Northern Ireland living in the Republic of Ireland. He is repeatedly turned down for jobs because of his accent, which affects his ability to support his family. McCourt also implies that the difference in dialect and culture between Malachy Sr. and Angela’s Limerick family is one cause of their consistent unhappiness. Angela’s family believes at least some of her misfortunes come from having married a man from the North. Her mother Margaret and sisters Philomena and Delia blame much of his bad behavior on his place of birth, and the “funny manner” they think Northern Irish people have. It’s not the accent that Malachy Sr. says “och” in that’s the issue, however, but what the “och” implies. In moments of tragedy, he always resorts to this empty phrase, passively accepting his misfortune without making an effort to change things.
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