Problems of diversity in policy and practice Celtic languages in the United Kingdom

• Published in: Comparative education Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 199 - 209
• Main Author: Sutherland, Margaret B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Taylor & Francis Group 01-05-2000; Carfax Publishing; Carfax Pub. Co., etc; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: African Languages; Bilingual Education; British literature; Celtic Languages; Children; Comparative Education; Cultural Pluralism; Education; Education policy; Educational Policy; Elementary Secondary Education; Endangered Languages; Foreign Countries; Government (Administrative Body); Irish; Language; Language Maintenance; Language Minorities; Language Planning; Language Policy; Linguistics; Migrant Children; Minderheit; Minority & ethnic groups; Multilingualism; Native Language Instruction; Nonnative languages; Nordirland; Primary education; Public Policy; Recognition (Achievement); Schools; Schottland; Scots Gaelic; Second language learning; Secondary schools; Sprache; Sprachgebrauch; Sprachpolitik; Sprachunterricht; United Kingdom; Unterricht; Wales; Welsh; United Kingdom; United Kingdom > UK
• ISSN: 0305-0068; 1360-0486
• DOI: 10.1080/713656601

The situation of Celtic languages within the United Kingdom is viewed in the context of minority languages and linguistic diversity in the world today. The various government policies for Celtic languages in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are outlined and information about the present school situations of the Welsh language, Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic is presented. Finally, government policies for these three languages in the United Kingdom are contrasted and reasons for maintaining or letting die a minority language are reviewed.