ABSTRACT

This article explores policy and practice in relation to support for speakers of community languages in Northern Ireland primary schools against the backdrop of the broader UK context, with reference also to the Republic of Ireland and wider European and international experiences. After an initial discussion of the educational, social and political context pertaining to Northern Ireland, we examine language and education policy as they relate to community languages, drawing out the issues that are common across the UK and pointing up those that are specific to or have particular resonances in Northern Ireland. The discussion is informed by ethnographic fieldwork in Belfast primary schools with contrasting socio-economic profiles. Our findings show that in addition to familiar challenges, a number of key factors are critical in Northern Ireland, including the recent surge in numbers of newcomer pupils, the lack of a statutory language component in primary schools, the economic dynamic in the education system, the divided nature of Northern Ireland society and its education system, the legacy of the conflict and socio-economic factors. We end by making suggestions for a way forward in policy terms.

摘要

本文探讨了在广泛英国背景下支持北爱尔兰小学社区语言使用者的政策和实践，同时也参考了爱尔兰共和国以及更广泛的欧洲和国际经验。在初步讨论了与北爱尔兰有关的教育，社会和政治环境之后，我们研究了与社区语言相关的语言和教育政策，提出了英国各地常见的问题，并指出了特定于或具有特定意义的问题。在北爱尔兰特别引起共鸣。讨论是由贝尔法斯特小学的人种学田野调查提供的，具有不同的社会经济特征。我们的调查结果表明，除了常见的挑战外，北爱尔兰还有许多关键因素，包括最近新生的数量激增，小学缺乏法定语言成分，教育体系中的经济动态，北爱尔兰社会及其教育体系的分裂性质，冲突的遗留和社会经济因素。最后，我们就政策方面的发展提出建议。