Towards a plurilingual Ireland: planting the seeds of linguistic social justice in Education

Kavanagh, Áine and Neville, Craig (2024) Towards a plurilingual Ireland: planting the seeds of linguistic social justice in Education. PublicPolicy.ie.

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Abstract

Ireland has an inherently multilingual history. Irish, or Gaeilge, has been spoken here since the 4th century, followed by the arrival of English in the 12th century, Ulster Scots in the early 17th century, the emergence of Shelta or Cant, spoken by the Traveller community, and the development of Irish Sign Language in the 1850s. Over the last 30 years, Ireland’s linguistic profile has changed significantly, mirroring a newly diverse population. A new approach to education is needed to support our children and young people that recognises our multilingualism as an asset. Plurilingualism, at an individual level, describes a person’s ability to use multiple languages across multiple contexts to support communication. At the societal level, plurilingualism contributes to social cohesion, respect and cultural richness (European Commission, 2008).

The existing approach to support learners that have English as an Additional Language (EAL) in Irish education places additional barriers on an already under-resourced group. It also denies children and young people full access to their own linguistic rights as described in Article 29.i.(c) and Article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

This policy position paper sets out a vision for a plurilingual and linguistically socially-just Ireland, focusing on schools and education as the key context in which radical change can occur and also where it is most needed. It reviews the merits and gaps of current educational policy and suggests short, medium, and long-term actions that can achieve this vision.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	plurilingualism; linguistic justice; EAL; diversity; inclusion
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics P Language and Literature > PB Modern European Languages
Divisions:	Early Learning Initiative Publications
Depositing User:	Tamara Malone
Date Deposited:	24 Sep 2024 14:30
Last Modified:	24 Sep 2024 14:30
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/7067

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