| Languages of Northern Ireland | |
|---|---|
 Sign in English, Irish and Scots at Derry Guildhall | |
| Official | English, Irish |
| National | English (99.17%)[1] |
| Vernacular | Ulster English, Hiberno-English, Ulster Irish |
| Minority | Irish (0.3% main usage, 12% knowledge), Ulster Scots (8% knowledge) [2] |
| Immigrant | Polish (1.1% main usage), Lithuanian (0.5% main usage), Romanian (0.3% main usage) |
| Signed | Northern Ireland Sign Language, British Sign Language, Irish Sign Language |
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English is by far the most spoken, and the "de facto" national language of Northern Ireland,[citation needed]; it occurs in various forms, including Ulster English and Hiberno-English. Irish is an official language of Northern Ireland since 2022,[3] and the local variety of Scots, known as Ulster Scots, has official minority status, with services in the language provided by public authorities.[4][5] Northern Ireland Sign Language and Irish Sign Language have also been recognised with minority status since 29 March 2004.[6][7]
Before legislation passed in 2022 that allowed the use of Irish in courts, the Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) 1737 also officially prohibited the use of languages other than English in legal proceedings, though this act is now repealed.[8]
The Irish used in Northern Ireland is primarily of the Ulster Irish dialect, with An Caighdéan (the standardised written Irish of the Republic of Ireland) rarely encountered.
Under the Good Friday Agreement, Irish and Ulster Scots (an Ulster dialect of the Scots language, sometimes known as Ullans), are recognised as "part of the cultural wealth of Northern Ireland".[9] Two all-island bodies for the promotion of these were created under the Agreement: Foras na Gaeilge, which promotes the Irish language, and the Ulster Scots Agency, which promotes the Ulster Scots dialect and culture. These operate separately under the aegis of the North/South Language Body, which reports to the North/South Ministerial Council.
The British government in 2001 ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Irish (in Northern Ireland) was specified under Part III of the Charter, with a range of specific undertakings in relation to education, translation of statutes, interaction with public authorities, the use of placenames, media access, support for cultural activities and other matters. A lower level of recognition was accorded to Ulster Scots, under Part II of the Charter.[10]
The earliest linguistic records from what is now Northern Ireland are of Primitive Irish, from about the 5th century AD. Languages spoken in Iron Age Ireland before then are now irretrievable, although there are some claims of traces in toponymy, including in Northern Ireland.[11] Shelta, a mixed language spoken by Irish Travellers (Rilantu Mincéirí), is also native to Ireland.
- ^ Proficiency in English, 2011 census, NINIS. According to the 2011 census, 99.17% (1,721,242) of participants could speak English "well" or "very well". Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- ^ "Northern Ireland Census Data". explore.nisra.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ "Irish language and Ulster Scots bill clears final hurdle in Parliament". BBC News. 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ "UK Government acts on Identity and Language legislation for Northern Ireland". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ "Language/Cultural Diversity: Frequently Asked Questions". Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Archived from the original on 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
- ^ "Sign Language". Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Archived from the original on 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
- ^ "Paul Murphy announces recognition for sign language". Northern Ireland Office. 2004-03-30. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
I am pleased to announce formal recognition for both British and Irish Sign Languages in Northern Ireland and in Ireland.
- ^ "Identity and Language (NI) Bill: Second Reading Opening Speech". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ "The Agreement" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-03. (204 KB)
- ^ "Council of Europe Charter monitoring report, 2010" (PDF). Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ D. Ó Corrain, 'A future for Irish placenames', in: A. Ó Maolfabhail, The placenames of Ireland in the third millennium, Ordnance Survey for the Placenames Commission, Dublin (1992), p. 44.