University Press. It examines the Ordnance Survey's map-making operation in Ireland which began in 1824, with the first maps appearing between 1835 and 1846, and production continuing until almost the end of the century. "Friel's reading of George Steiner's After Babel was absolutely essential to the creation of Translations." Characters Manus - a scholar who is his late twenties/thirties who is one of Hugh's sons and lame. He speaks only Irish in front of the British, even though he knows how to speak English. He tries to teach Sarah how to speak. Sarah - she has had a speech defect all her life, leading many in the town to consider her dumb. Jimmy Jack Cassie - the "infant prodigy" is a bachelor in his sixties, who never washes or changes his clothes. Despite being fluent in both Latin and Greek, he still enjoys attending the hedge-school. Máire - a strong woman in her twenties, she wants to learn English so that she can emigrate to America. Doalty - a young man who sabotages the theodolite machine. He studies at the local hedge-school. Bridget - a young girl with "a countrywoman's instinctive cunning". She studies at the local hedge-school. Hugh - a large man in his late sixties, perpetually drunk. He is hedge-master at Baile Beag's hedge-school, often quizzing his students on the origins of words. Owen - a well dressed, handsome young man in his twenties, who is also one of Hugh's sons. He is employed part-time by the British to provide English translations of place names in Ireland. The British mistakenly call him Roland. Captain Lancey - a middle-aged officer, competent at cartography but lacking in social skills. Lieutenant Yolland - in his late twenties/early thirties, with a tall awkward appearance. He is in Ireland by chance. Having missed his boat to India, he subsequently enlisted in the Army, was assigned to the Engineers, then posted to Dublin, and finally sent to Baile Beag with the Ordnance Survey. He often proclaims his admiration for the Irish culture and language despite being unable to speak it. He falls in love with Maire. Donnelly Twins - they are referred to several times throughout the play, but are never shown on-stage. Plot The play is set in the quiet community of Baile Beag (later anglicised to Ballybeg), in County Donegal, in 1833. Many of the inhabitants have little experience of the world