"Malplimulto Lingvoj en la Unuiĝinta Reĝlando"

…de la Konsilio de Eŭropo:

The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers has just made public the third report on the situation of minority languages in the UK. This report has been drawn up by a committee of independent experts which monitors the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

On the basis of the report, the Committee of Ministers calls on the UK to continue taking resolute action for the protection and promotion of Scottish Gaelic in all areas, in particular in education, through the training of teachers and the production of teaching and learning materials.

Furthermore, the UK authorities are encouraged to adopt and implement a comprehensive Irish language policy, preferably through the adoption of legislation.

The UK should also ensure that health and social care facilities offer services in Welsh.

Finally, the Committee of Ministers recommends the UK to adopt a strategy to enhance and develop Ulster Scots, in co-operation with the speakers.

The regional or minority languages protected under the Charter in the UK are Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots, Ulster Scots, Manx Gaelic and Cornish.

"Filistro kiel Kulturo Ministro"

Nelson McCausland

….de Nelson McCausland:

This afternoon I met representatives of the Irish language organisation Pobal. At the present time I am preparing a paper on a minority languages strategy for Northern Ireland and it was an opportunity to hear the views of Janet Muller and her colleagues.

We have two indigenous minority languages in Northern Ireland, Ulster-Scots and Irish, and I said to the folk from Pobal that the nearest situation to that in Northern Ireland was the situation in Scotland, where there are also two indigenous minority languages, Scots and Gaelic.

There are differences but there are also similarities, not least the fact that the two minority languages in Ulster are sister languages to the minority languages in Scotland. Scottish Gaelic developed from Irish Gaelic and Ulster-Scots is a variant of Scots.

I also explained that one of my priorities was to promote a shared and better future and that the minority languages strategy would reflect the core principles of that priority, which are equity, diversity and independence.

Pobal

…de la Fermanagh Herald:

Culture Minister, Nelson McCausland met with Janet Muller, CEO of POBAL and a delegation from the Irish Language community.

The Minister welcomed the opportunity to meet with the representatives and said: "Northern Ireland has a rich cultural diversity and all regional or minority languages are equally important and must be recognised and respected.

"I am committed to bringing forward a strategy for the Ulster-Scots culture, heritage and language and for the Irish language, as set out in the St Andrew's Agreement.

The Minister said: "I am considering a number of issues surrounding the protection and development of Ulster-Scots and Irish...

Caitriona Ruane

…de UTV:

The Education Minister in Northern Ireland has warned that the Irish language needs to be enshrined in law.

Caitriona Ruane highlighted the lack of an Irish Language Act after a meeting with a European committee probing the implementation of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.

"For our part Sinn Fein is totally committed to securing effective, rights based legislation for Irish speakers here in the north," she said.

Former DUP Culture, Arts and Leisure minister Edwin Poots in 2007 opposed an Irish language act.

Unionists are keen to develop the use of Ulster Scots.

But Ms Ruane said: "I stressed with the committee that the work that my department and others such as the DRD have been engaged in is taking place in the absence of both an effective rights-based Irish language act, despite the British Government committing themselves to this at St Andrews, as well as in absence of the languages strategy as promised by successive DUP culture ministers."

La Brita Ministerio de Eksterlandaj Aferoj & Keltalingvoj

…de la BBC:

The NI Executive was warned by the Foreign Office that a failure to agree on minority languages was creating international difficulties for the UK.

The Executive failed to submit details of how it is fulfilling a commitment to promote Irish and Ulster Scots under the terms of a European charter.

As a result the UK had to submit a late and incomplete report to the Council of Europe, the only nation to do so.
This caused annoyance at the Foreign Office and other devolved governments.

The UK government is required to report to the Council of Europe every three years on its progress in protecting minority languages, such as Ulster Scots, Irish, Scots Gaelic and Welsh. …

…The BBC has seen a letter from April this year in which the then Europe minister Caroline Flint wrote to Stormont's then Culture Minister Gregory Campbell.

She stated she was "disappointed" that his department was still unable to provide its input.

She went on to state that following a formal request from the Council of Europe she could no longer delay.

She wrote: "I cannot ignore this request as there is now a real risk of the UK being censured for not meeting its international obligations."…

Moyle

...de la Balymoney Times:

Eleven bilingual street nameplates are to be erected in Moyle District Council area.

Addressing the news during a recent Building Control Services meeting, members heard that five signs would be in Irish language and six would be in Ulster Scots translations.

The five names in Irish will be Broombeg View, Cushendall Road, Kilns Road, Mill Street and Ossian Avenue.

The six names in Ulster Scots will be Causeway Road, Castlenagree Road, Clogher Road, Feigh Road, Isle Road and Runkerry Road.

Nelson Mc Causland kiel Kultura Ministro?

…de la blogo, Slugger O’Toole:

The BBC is reporting that there is speculation that Nelson McCausland, who has declared that a ‘culture war’ exists in the North may be appointed as Culture Minister.

McCausland is without much doubt the most anti-Irish language MLA in the assembly and has been a long term opponent of the language...

Urba Koncilio de Derry

…de la Derry Journal:

Derry City Council is to carry a logo with its English name translated into Irish and Ulster Scots.

The way was paved for the three-language logo with last week's adoption of Irish and Ulster Scots language policies by council members.

Derry City Council logos will be accompanied by the terms Derry City Council, Comhairle Cathrach Dhoire and Derry Citie Cooncil, although final confirmation on translation of name is pending from the Ulster-Scots Language Society.

The Irish language policy adoption will enable employees and members of the public to use their name and address in Irish and to speak Irish in all council buildings while the public can request all council services and all council information to be provided in Irish. All new internal and external signs on Derry City Council-owned buildings, offices, internal directional signs and vehicles will include English, Irish and Ulster Scots…

La lrlandalingvo, Ulsterskota kaj Civitanaj Festoj

...de la Londonderry Sentinel:

Culture Minister Gregory Campbell has warned Derry City Council that proposals giving Irish greater priority than Ulster-Scots in civic festivals will outrage and further alienate unionists.

If adopted, the new proposals would mean that a reason must be given if an element to promote the Irish language is not included in civic festivals and events.That would not be the case for Ulster-Scots.

New Ulster-Scots and Irish Language policies will be considered tomorrow by the council's Planning and Resources Committee and will have a number of wide-ranging implications.

However, Irish appears to enjoy greater priority in the proposals - and Mr Campbell has warned that adopting them would be a serious mistake...

Lingva Disputo

…de la Ballymoney Times:

Ballycastle independent councillor Seamus Blaney said he thought those writing to Moyle Council applying for Irish and Ulster Scots would have included their addresses in their particular form of language in their letters if they were so concerned about promotion.

That prompted Council Chairperson, Ulster Unionist councillor Willie Graham, to say: "Maybe they can't speak Irish or Ulster-Scots, not like me, I can speak Ulster-Scots."

Council Vice-Chairperson, Sinn Fein councillor Cara McShane, disagreed with Councillor Blaney saying the Irish language school did write in Irish in their application regarding signs at Kilns Road and Mill Street.

Meanwhile, Councillor Blaney said Ulster-Scots is not a language but a dialect.

And he said Sinn Fein were in effect promoting the Ulster-Scots because he predicted bids would come in for Ulster-Scots signs if Sinn Fein pushed through the Irish signs in Moyle.

Councillor Blaney wondered what an area like Glenville in Cushendall would be called in Irish.*

[* “Baile an Ghleanna”? ]

Trilingvaj Signaloj

…de la Ballymoney Times:

A well-known solicitor in Ballycastle says The Diamond in the centre of the town, should have Irish and Ulster-Scots added to the English nameplate to reflect the 'cultural diversity' of the whole Moyle District.

Berkeley White, whose office is based at The Diamond, wrote to Moyle Council saying that as The Diamond is the central 'square' in the town it is appropriate that all major cultures are represented.

And he wants to see Quay Road, where he lives, also have a triple language representation because it is one of the main roads in the town.

In a letter to the Council, Mr White said: 'As a business rate payer of 7 The Diamond, Ballycastle, I would propose that Moyle District Council add street names in both the Irish and Ulster Scots (Scots Irish) languages.

Gregory Campbell

...de la Londonderry Sentinel:

The Minister for Culture Arts and Leisure, Gregory Campbell, has vowed that Ulster Scots and Irish cultural outlooks will receive parity of funding while he is in office - whether people like it or not.

In a frank interview with The Sentinel, Mr Campbell, said not only was it his objective to treat everyone equally, but it was his ambition to eliminate disparity.

Asked to comment on his stance over the Irish language Act now that he was the Minister in charge, Mr Campbell said: "There still appears to be some misunderstanding around this issue.
"It was the St Andrews Agreement just over 15 months ago, where the British Government talked to Sinn Fein about the implementation of the Irish Language Act.

"Neither Sinn Fein, the British Government, mentioned the possibility of an Irish Language Act to us...

Lingvapolitiko

Dankon, Continental!

March 22, 2008

.

Mr. John Mowad
Continental Airlines / Dept. HQSEO
1600 Smith Street
Houston, Texas 77002

re: L3593794

Dear Mr. Mowad:

Thank you for your kind response to my letter regarding the possibility of Irish-language announcements aboard Ireland-bound Continental Airlines flights. I look forward to further response from your Senior Management teams.

In your letter, you mentioned Shannon and Dublin Airports. One would hope that Belfast flights would also be considered. Belfast is the home of a vibrant Irish-speaking community and boasts of its own Gaeltacht Quarter.

Here, I would recommend that, for Belfast flights, Ulster Scots announcements accompany those in Irish. Short, and even recorded, announcements in both languages would be perfectly feasible and even welcomed by many.

I am certain that the Ulster Scots Agency would be happy to help in this regard, just as Foras na Gaeilge would be able to do so with Irish.

As you may know, Highland Airways even offers online booking services through three languages, English, Scots Gaelic and Welsh. Continental Airlines may want to consider this further step in improving service.

Many businesses are discovering the benefits of using Irish. The annual Barr 50 (Top 50) awards are indicative of this and often include companies based outside of Ireland.

It would be exciting to see (and hear!) Continental Airlines services provided as Gaeilge!

Ekskuzo de Aer Lingus

...de Scotland on Sunday:

It’s a heck of a barney over the Blarney. Flights with Ireland's national airline have traditionally greeted passengers in both English and Irish Gaelic.

But now the Celtic salutation has been abandoned for Aer Lingus's new route to Belfast amid claims that a multi-lingual welcome would have to include Ulster-Scots.

As part of the power-sharing agreement in Northern Ireland, Irish Gaelic and the dialect spoken by descendents of Scottish immigrants were awarded equal status.

As a result, there were calls for "Walcome tae Bilfawst" to be announced alongside "Welcome to Belfast" and "Failte go Beal Feirste".

A spokeswoman for Aer Lingus said the decision to remove Irish was made for operational reasons.

Konvertado de Ministro Poots?

...de la blogo, From the Balcony, de Máirtín Ó Muilleoir:

You would have to be an optimist indeed to believe that Edwin Poots is undergoing a Damescene conversion in relation to the Irish language but a little éinín tells me he will open the landmark Pobal conference on language rights in the Europa Hotel tomorrow morning.

The Minister for Culture had to admit in the Assembly this week that he had swotted away every invite he received to Irish language events since taking up office. In fact, I had asked him along to a few events myself until to receive the inevitable 'Dear John' letter. Edwin's excuse was that he's not "a speaker of Irish" (though a learned enough authority, I note, to block the Irish Language Act). Of course, he attends Ulster-Scots events though he can't speak Ullans and dare say he's been at a few rugby events though he may not play with the oval ball...

Edwin Poots kaj “Egaleco de Estimo”

...de Slugger O'Toole:

Culture Minister, Edwin Poots, has admitted to refusing to attend every Irish language event he has been invited to since taking office on the grounds that he was “not a speaker of Irish.”

However, his lack of knowledge of the “wee dafty wean” lingo has not prevented him from attending five Ulster Scots events in his time as Minister. Before the Chinese, Polish and other ethnic minority groups rip up their glossy invites to the Culture Minister, his spokesperson did inform the Irish News that he decides “on each event as it comes in.”

In which case, I think we can safely conclude, it’s a case of “No Irish Need Apply.”

Limdato por Nòs Ùr

...de la Inverness Courier:

There are only two weeks left for minority language singers and song-writers to enter Nòs Ùr - the first song contest to be held in Inverness as part of four regional finals held across Europe. The deadline for song applications is March 14th.

Meaning 'New Style' in Gaelic, the Nòs Ùr competition is seeking songs entered in languages such as Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Ulster Scots, Irish, Manx, Welsh, Cornish and Breton. The winners of the West European competition will be entered into the final of the pan-European Liet Lavut competition which takes place in Lulea, Sweden in October…

Letero al la Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch

22 February, 2008

Mr. George Patton

Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch

Franklin Haw, 5t Flare

10-12 Brunswick Raa

Bilfawst, BT2 7GE

Dear Mr Patton:

I am in receipt of a letter from Ms. Suzanne Clark of Aer Lingus’ Chief Executive Office addressing the controversial issue of that organisation’s banning Irish-language announcements on Belfast flights.

She offers the rationale that “it would be operationally impractical to deliver anouncements in English, Irish and Scots Ulster [sic].”

I think that we can both agree, sir, that before pretending to address the needs of language communities, Aer Lingus would do well to learn the proper names, even in English, of their correlative languages.

Even more so, I find it rather disheartening that Aer Lingus is using one language community as a ready excuse to exclude another. In this way, both Ulster Scots and Irish are cast aside.

Although I am comfortable with Irish, I enjoy hearing all languages, as all are intriguing to me. Indeed, as a resident of New York’s Borough of Queens, I undoubtedly live in the most linguistically diverse 462 square kilometres on the planet. Here, 150 languages are spoke on a daily basis.

In addition to socialising in Irish, I very much enjoy conducting neighbourhood business in Spanish, and of course, as a native New Yorker, my English is peppered generously with Yiddish words and phrases.

Languages don’t frighten me. Ignorance does.

Aer Lingus’ ignorance manifests itself in their arrogance which sells short the people of Northern Ireland.

In truth, Aer Lingus’ Irish-language announcements were always quite short and amounted to little more than a “welcome”.

Indeed, it is impossible to believe that adding “Fáilte go Béal Feirste” and "Walcome tae Bilfawst” to “Welcome to Belfast” would in any way prove to be “operationally impractical” to any intelligent flight crew or would cause any serious consternation to their passengers.

If any difficulty were to persist, a live announcement could be replaced with a recording in English, Irish and Ullans. Here, both the Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch and Foras na Gaeilge would be well-equiped to direct Aer Lingus to good languages services.

Aer Lingus’ misguided and ill-advised policy denies opportunities to both language communities in question.

It is my hope that you would reach the same conclusion and bring your concerns to the attention of Mr Dermot Mannion, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer.