Abstract
The relationship between indigenous languages and dynastic and representative politics has been an enduring feature of the history of the British Isles. Indeed, when Dicey was at the peak of his influence, language, religion and dissenting politics combined to forge Celtic assertions of separateness against the dominance of the hegemonic state. Following Irish independence, it was assumed that political divisions based upon ethnic or religious distinctiveness would yield to class-based issues and wither away. All the Celtic languages, let alone issues of mass religious dissent, have subsequently atrophied. But the political context wherein remedial strategies to revitalise Celtic identity may be implemented is being strengthened.
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Notes
See W. T. R. Pryce and C. H. Williams, ‘Sources and methods in the study of language areas: A case study of Wales’, in Colin H. Williams (ed.), Language in Geographic Context, Multilingual Matters, Clevedon, 1988, pp. 167–237.
For an authoritative account see C. Dafis, ‘Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg’, in M. Stephens (ed.), The Welsh Language Today, Gomer Press, Llandysul, 1973.
See C. H. Williams, ‘Non-violence and the development of the Welsh Language Society, 1962-c. 1974’, Welsh History Review, 8, 4, 1977, pp. 426–55;
C. H. Williams (ed.), National Separatism, University of Wales Press; Cardiff, 1982,
C. H. Williams, ‘Christian witness and non-violent principles of nationalism’, in Kristian Gerner et al. (eds.), Stat, Nation, Konflikt, Bra Böcker, Lund, 1966, pp. 343–93.
See G. Humphries, ‘Polisi Iaith Awdurdod Addysg Gwynedd — Adolygu a gweithredu ym 1986’, Education for Development, Vol. 10, No. 3, 1987, pp. 7–23.
For an excellent overview see C. Baker, Aspects of Bilingualism in Wales, Multilingual Matters, Clevedon, 1985.
See G. Evans, Bywyd Cymro, ed. Manon Rhys, Gwasg Gwynedd, Caernarfon, 1982, and in translation by Meic Stephens, For the Sake of Wales, Welsh Academic Press, Bridgend, 1996.
Arguments for a separate channel are set out in G. Evans, Byw Neu Farw Y Frwydr dros yr Iaith a’r Sianel Deledu Gymraeg, Plaid Cymru, Aberystwyth, 1980.
C. H. Williams, ‘The Celtic world’, in J. A. Fishman, (ed.), Handbook of Language and Ethnic Identity, Oxford, Oxford University Press, New York, 1999, pp. 267–85.
HMSO, A Voice for Wales: The Government’s Proposals for a Welsh Assembly, HMSO, Cardiff, 1997.
C. H. Williams (ed.), Language Re-vitalisation: Policy and planning in Wales, University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 2001.
C. James, and C. H. Williams, ‘Language and planning in Scotland and Wales’, in H. Thomas and R. Macdonald (eds.), Planning in Scotland and Wales, The University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 1997, pp. 264–303.
The Ulster-Scots Language Society estimates 100,000 speakers in Northern Ireland. For context see A. Mac Poilin (ed.), The Irish Language in Northern Ireland, Ultach Trust, Belfast, 1997, and M. Nic Craith, ‘Irish speakers in Northern Ireland, and the Good Friday Agreement’, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Developmentn, vol. 20, 6, 1999, pp. 494–507.
R. Hindley, The Death of the Irish Language: A qualified obituary, Routledge, London, 1990,
and C. H. Williams (ed.), Linguistic Minorities, Society and Territory, Multilingual Matters, Clevedon, 1991 review the statistical evidence and political motivations which underlay the exaggeration of any contribution the Gaeltacht might have made to language revitalisation.
N. Ó Gadhra, ‘The Irish Gaeltacht communities on the eve of the third millennium’, paper presented to the Nineteenth Annual Celtic Colloquium, Harvard University, 30 April 1999, p. 7.
P. Ó Riagáin, Language Policy and Social Reproduction: Ireland 1893–1993, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1997 demonstrates that government initiatives in economic, social and regional planning spheres, have more important effects on language patterns than do legislation or government language policies.
Board na Gailge, The Irish Language in a Changing Society, Board na Gaeilge, Dublin, 1988.
See also P. O Flatharta, ‘On the delivery mechanism of social and economic development of the Gaeltacht’. Paper presented at the ECNI International Seminar, Flensburg, ECMI, 18–20 June 1999.
C. H. Williams, ‘Language planning and regional development: Lessons from the Irish Gaeltacht’, in C. H. Williams (ed.), Language in Geographic Context, Multilingual Matters, Clevedon, 1988, pp. 267–301.
Comhdáil Náisúnta na Gaeilge, Towards a Language Act: A discussion document. Comhdáil Náisúnta na Gaeilge, Dublin, 1998.
I owe this observation and other insights on Gaelic to Robert Dunbar of Glasgow University. Language issues have been, at best, a tiny footnote in Scottish devolution. Gaelic has not even developed a symbolic role in nationalist discourse, whereas institutions and ideologies have played the defining role in national self-definition. See R. Dunbar, ‘Minority language rights regimes: An analytical framework, Scotland, and emerging European norms’, in J. M. Kirk and P. Ó Baoill (eds.), Linguistic Politics, Queen’s University, Belfast, 2001, pp. 231–54.
A Fresh Start for Gaelic, Report of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Gaelic, Edinburgh, 2002. See also the excellent papers by W. McLeod, ‘Language planning as regional development?’, Scottish Affairs, vol. 38, 2001, pp. 51–72;
and A. MacCaluim and W. McLeod, Re-vitalising Gaelic? A Critical Analysis of the Report of the Taskforce on Public Funding of Gaelic, Department of Celtic and Scottish Studies, Edinburgh, 2001.
See R. Dunbar, ‘Minority language rights under international law’, International and Comparative Law Quarterly, Vol. 50, 1, 2001, 90–120. For the Charter, see Council of Europe, European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, Council of Europe, Strasbourg, 1993.
D. Williams, ‘Wales, the law and the constitution,’ in The Cambrian Law Review, Vol. 31, 2000, p. 53.
See A. Sherlock, ‘Born free, but everywhere in chains? A legal analysis of the first year of the National Assembly for Wales’, The Cambrian Law Review, Vol. 31, 2000, pp. 59–72.
R. Rawlings, ‘Concordats of the Constitution’, 116 Law Quarterly Review, 2000, p. 257.
Some sections of the Government of Wales Act confer powers directly on the Assembly; e.g. sections 27 and 28. Orders in Council may not remove powers from the NAfW without the latter’s approval. See J. Jones, ‘Making Welsh law’, in J. Jones (ed.), The Law Making Powers of the National Assembly: Conference report,’ Wales Law Journal/The Law Society, Cardiff, 2001, 40–53, and T. Jones, ‘The subordinate law making powers of the National Assembly for Wales’, in J. Jones (ed.), pp. 6–12.
See D. Lambert, ‘The Government of Wales Act: An act for laws to be ministered in Wales in like form as in this realm?’ Cambrian Law Review, 30, 2000, 60–70.
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Williams, C.H. (2003). Language, Law and Politics. In: Morgan, W.J., Livingstone, S. (eds) Law and Opinion in Twentieth-Century Britain and Ireland. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230504448_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230504448_6
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