Dal gombeen man al croppy boy: uso politico/culturale di sostantivi in Irish-English nell'Ulisse

Taking into account specific Irish-English lexical occurrences, this paper explains why and to what extent such lexical choices contribute to add / conceal / reveal cultural and political meanings. A reflection upon these nouns in relation to the context in which they occur and to the character who pronounces them, help the reader fully understand Joyce’s position with regard to crucial political and cultural issues such as nationalism, provincialism, imperialism and prejudice. Expressions as gombeen man—a usurer—as Dannyman and Harvey Duff—both meaning informer—and as Croppy—a rebel, a patriot—provide interesting political meanings strictly linked to the culture and history that have produced them. As the implications of culturally connotated vocabulary become particularly evident in translation, different Italian versions of Ulysses will be used as tools of investigation.