WLD: You've lost me - are you saying that the quotation in question really has nothing to do with language and everything to do with priesthood? And if so, what is your point in reference to "Other words such as ale" - that Stephen feels he will never be comfortable drinking?

And your final comment - "one would have thought" - seems to imply that the previous comment - "However, Joyce's love for and committment to, writing in the English language is what his life was primarily about" - necessarily negates the interpretation I have given to (the character) Stephen Daedalus's thoughts, and further seems to imply that only a complete dunderhead would not see that. Well, I'm willing to claim the title of 'complete dunderhead', so would you care to expand?