Politics of Language in a (Dis)United Ireland

ABSTRACT:Language is pivotal in the areas of human rights protection, good governance, peace-building, reconciliation and sustainable development. A person's right to use his or her chosen language is a prerequisite for freedom of thought, opinion and expression; for access to education and information; for employment; and for building inclusive societies. In the context of a potential political realignment of the island of Ireland, this essay considers the contentious political debates and acrimonious commentary surrounding language, primarily Irish and Ullans, and explores the sharply divided opinions regarding the role and place of language in society: how various attitudes are based on social context, social class and educational attainment, and the extent of the challenge to overcome these in the attempt to create a safe and neutral space in which the multi-layered aspects of the language debate can be addressed in a non-threatening manner. In conclusion, it teases out some of the more intense and extreme aspects, and how they might be addressed.