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Politicised linguistic consciousness: the case of Ulster‐Scots
Author(s) -
Craith M. Nic
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
nations and nationalism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1469-8129
pISSN - 1354-5078
DOI - 10.1111/1469-8219.00002
Subject(s) - scots , context (archaeology) , hostility , politics , consciousness , phenomenon , set (abstract data type) , linguistics , sociology , state (computer science) , linguistic context , history , political science , law , epistemology , linguistic analysis , psychology , philosophy , social psychology , archaeology , computer science , programming language , algorithm
This essay examines the evolution of the Ullans phenomenon in the past decade and sets its emergence in a broad political context. Of particular interest to the writer are the claims made about Ullans and the attempts to constitute these as a viable basis for its justification as a distinct language. While factors motivating the supporters of an Ulster‐Scots cultural tradition are examined, reasons for hostility towards Ullans are also reviewed. As the debate regarding the linguistic status of Ullans rages on, the author analyses the importance of state recognition for the enhancement of a dialect or language. In this essay the case of Ulster‐Scots is set in a strongly comparative context.