How does Brian Friel explore colonization in Translations?

Colonization is one of the primary themes in Brian Friel's Translations. It is manifest in a variety of ways, although Friel explores the topic in two primary modes: 1) the physical presence of the soldiers facilitating the Ordnance Survey, and 2) the translation of the Irish language into English.

The physical presence of the soldiers in Baile Beag is Friel's most obvious exploration of colonization. While the expedition headed by Captain Lancey is only...

Colonization is one of the primary themes in Brian Friel's Translations. It is manifest in a variety of ways, although Friel explores the topic in two primary modes: 1) the physical presence of the soldiers facilitating the Ordnance Survey, and 2) the translation of the Irish language into English.

The physical presence of the soldiers in Baile Beag is Friel's most obvious exploration of colonization. While the expedition headed by Captain Lancey is only interested in mapping the region, it's still a subtle form of colonization. The play takes place in 1833, well after the Act of Union, a legal measure passed in 1800 that cemented England's political control over Ireland. As such, though the soldiers are peaceful enough, their presence is a sign that England is extending its reach beyond the already Anglicized regions around Dublin and seeking to exert more control over the Gaelic frontier of the island. As such, the soldiers represent the initial wave in an impending invasion. 

The translation of Irish into English is also an act of colonization. In many ways, the translation of a language always loses something; some kind of important meaning always gets "lost in translation" because each language represents a unique way of interpreting the world. As such, when Lancey and his men translate Irish into English, they are effectively replacing an inherently Irish worldview with an English worldview. As such, though the act of translation does not seem terribly sinister at first, it is effectively a colonization effort attempting to extinguish the native Irish psyche.