Language

The Scots language has a history stretching back nearly 1,000 years.  

For centuries, it was the national language of Scotland and was used for education, literature, law and even the Royal Court. However, its official status declined from the early 1600s, with greater legal and political integration with England making English the official language of the Kingdom.  

The Scots tongue came to Ulster with waves of migration in the 17th Century, when up to 100,000 lowland Scots came in search of prosperity and religious freedom. Within a century, the language was firmly established. 

Unfortunately, much like Scots in Scotland, Ulster-Scots has come under considerable pressure from English over the years, especially due to the influence of the larger language in education and the media. 

To learn more about the history of the Ulster-Scots language, click here. 

Most people in Northern Ireland respect cultural diversity and have respect for Ulster-Scots identity, heritage and language. However, over the years, some myths – or haivers – have been spread about the Ulster-Scots language which can be very damaging as they cause people to feel embarrassed or fearful about embracing, enjoying and sharing Ulster-Scots. 

To read about some of the biggest myths to have been spread about the Ulster-Scots language, as well as how they can be refuted, please click here. 

Today, there is new hope for the future of the Ulster-Scots language. 

The Belfast Agreement of 1998 emphasised the importance of respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to languages in Northern Ireland and recognised Ulster-Scots as "part of the cultural wealth of the island of Ireland".

Both the Good Friday Agreement and the St Andrews Agreement (2006) are committed to the protection and promotion of Ulster-Scots as part of Northern Ireland's cultural wealth. 

Under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, the UK government recognises Ulster-Scots as a minority language. This places obligations on government departments in Northern Ireland to safeguard, facilitate, and encourage its use.

In May 2022, the UK government formally recognised Ulster-Scots as a national minority under the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and affirms the distinct language, heritage, and culture of the Ulster-Scots community. 

The above place obligations on Northern Ireland and the UK to encourage and support the use of Ulster-Scots in public life, education, and media. The results can be found in different areas. For example, the language is enjoying a revival of Ulster-Scots poets and writers; programmes reflecting Ulster-Scots culture, heritage and language can now be found regularly on TV and radio; while both of Ulster's universities are involved in work to shed new light on Ulster-Scots.