Learning a Minority Language

Although English is the predominant language of the UK, there are several minority languages spoken in different regions and it's possible to find nurseries that teach those languages from an early age. The other native languages spoken in the UK are:-

• Welsh
• Scottish Gaelic
• Scots
• Irish
• Ulster Scots
• Cornish

These languages are recognised in UK law and recognised by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.  In Wales, the Welsh National Assembly afford equal status to Welsh and English in official publications and signage.  Strangely enough, the English language isn't declared constitutionally as the language of the UK, it only enjoys its status on the grounds that that is what the majority of the population speak!

If you live in a region where a minority language is spoken and want your children to be learn it then you will be able to find local nurseries and other groups to join that promote these languages.  As with learning a foreign language at home, you should aim to speak the language to your children as well so that they gain wider exposure to it and can learn it more easily.  Indeed, you may choose only to use the minority language in the domestic setting and have them learn English outside of the home.