Language Use and Language Learning in Northern Ireland: Building Linguistic Capacity for Reconciliation / Úsáid Teanga agus Foghlaim Teanga I dTuaisceart Éireann: Cumas Teanga a Fhorbairt don Athmhuintearas
Citation:
Róisín Costello, Language Use and Language Learning in Northern Ireland: Building Linguistic Capacity for Reconciliation / Úsáid Teanga agus Foghlaim Teanga I dTuaisceart Éireann: Cumas Teanga a Fhorbairt don Athmhuintearas, 2022Abstract:
This report outlines
some central concerns raised by the text of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) , 2022, (as introduced) and which were
identified by participants in the final workshop of the New Foundations Irish
Research Council funded project ‘Supporting Irish Language Use on a CrossCommunity Basis - Recommendations and Insights’ in June 2022, including
concerns raised by the community partner in the project, Turas.
The research undertaken thus far has indicated a clear need for formal,
legal provision through legislation for language rights in Northern Ireland.
The specific obligations such legislation could impose have been modelled
in other jurisdictions on both the island of Ireland and in the United
Kingdom and are examined in the subsequent report in this series.
However, the minimum objective of such legislation is to reduce discretion
and thus seek to ‘depoliticise’ language rights in functional terms by
removing them from active and ongoing fluctuations of enforcement or
support which a less formal, policy basis would permit.
Depoliticisation must, however, operate not only in a top-down model but
also in a bottom-up manner, building tolerance, and understanding, of
minority languages among the community. Crucially this requires not only
the facilitation and recognition of existing language users with high levels
of fluency but also the engagement of those communities who do not view
themselves as having any ‘ownership’ of the/a minority language.
Sponsor
Grant Number
Irish Research Council (IRC)
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/costelriDescription:
PUBLISHED
Author: Costello, Róisín
Type of material:
ReportCollections
Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
Irish language, Northern Ireland, Ulster Scots, Northern Ireland, Minority languages, Northern IrelandSubject (TCD):
Identities in Transformation , Making Ireland , Language RightsMetadata
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