Ulster Scots language

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Ulster Scots, also known as Ullans, are recent names for the varieties of the Scots language spoken in parts of Ulster. Native speakers traditionally called the language (Braid) Scots or Scotch.

Ulster Scots is defined in legislation (The North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) Northern Ireland Order 1999) as

the variety of the Scots language which has traditionally been used in parts of Northern Ireland and in Donegal in Ireland [1]. Furthermore The United Kingdom declares, in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 1 of the Charter that it recognises that Scots and Ulster Scots meet the Charter's definition of a regional or minority language for the purposes of Part II of the Charter [1].

The Good Friday Agreement also recognises Ulster Scots as "part of the cultural wealth of the island of Ireland", and established the cross-border Ulster-Scots Agency whose remit is to promote the study, conservation, development and use of Ulster Scots as a living language; to encourage and develop the full range of its attendant culture; and to promote an understanding of the history of the Ulster-Scots people.

Although usually treated as a variety of Scots some consider it to be a language in its own right while others regard it as a dialect of English. Today Ulster Scots is estimated to be spoken by about 100,000 people from both nationalist and unionist communities and in counties on both sides of the border.

Ullans is a neologism merging Ulster and Lallans - the Scots for Lowlands.

In recent years a movement has been under way to change the perception of Ulster Scots. At one time it was derided as "poor English", but many of its speakers now take pride in the way they speak and in the wider Ulster-Scots heritage of which it forms part.

(Ulster) Scots is closely related to the Germanic language English. It is quite different from Scottish Gaelic, which is a Celtic language related to Irish and Manx.

Ulster Scots language

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