Transitional Politics and Language Rights in a Multi-ethnic Northern Ireland: Towards a True Linguistic Pluralism?

This paper provides an overview of the deliberations on cultural diversity and language policy that have occurred in Northern Ireland since the onset of the peace process. The paper looks specifically at how policy decisions and political debate on the Irish language and the languages of migrant com...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ethnopolitics 2014-05, Vol.13 (3), p.245-266
Main Authors: McMonagle, Sarah, McDermott, Philip
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Constraints
Cultural diversity
Debate
Discourse
Ireland
Irish Language
Linguistics
Migrants
Northern Ireland
Peace
Pluralism
Political Parties
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Summary:This paper provides an overview of the deliberations on cultural diversity and language policy that have occurred in Northern Ireland since the onset of the peace process. The paper looks specifically at how policy decisions and political debate on the Irish language and the languages of migrant communities are driven by competing notions of Britishness and Irishness, despite a supposed desire in the Belfast Agreement to promote 'respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity'. The paper argues that the peace process has increased the level of policy discussion on both autochthonous and allochthonous language issues, but has also served to cement their position within ethnic conflict. While debates on new policy directions have raised discussions on intercultural awareness in policy delivery, the competing interests of the political parties have tended to act as a barrier to the development of a true linguistic pluralism.
ISSN:1744-9057
1744-9065
DOI:10.1080/17449057.2013.858935