Basic information on the spoken languages and the educational system:

English

The English language belongs to the West-germanic languages and is related to Frisian, Dutch and German, although it underwent strong French influence after the Norman invasion in 1066. Ever since the Elizabethan Age the number of people speaking English as their mother tongue has grown rapidly.

Today English is widely spoken on all six continents. It is the most important language not only of the United Kingdom, but also of the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and many islands in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It is also an official language of India, the Philippines, and many countries in sub‑Saharan Africa, including South Africa.

English is the native language of more than 350 million persons today. English is by far the most widely taught foreign language. English has been accepted in virtually every part of the world as the preferred second language: the language that two people will turn to when they cannot understand each other's tongue. It is thus the dominating international language of science, diplomacy, trade, media and information technology. Using the Internet without any knowledge of English is quite hard.

English is very open to new vocabulary where it admits words freely from other languages and creates new compounds and derivatives. English has the largest vocabulary of any language in the world, chiefly because of its propensity for borrowing and because the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century introduced vast numbers of French words into the language. E.g. the words veal, beef, mutton, and pork are all of French origin, they were used for the prepared meats eaten by the Normans, while the names calf, ox, sheep, and swine for the corresponding animals raised and slaughtered by the English‑speaking farmers are all of Anglo‑Saxon origin.

The Welsh language belongs to the Brythonic branch of Celtic language family. The 1991 census indicated that there are over 500.000 Welsh speakers (19% of the population). The traditional Welsh heartland areas are the North and the West, where high percentages of Welsh speakers are found.

Within the National Curriculum, Welsh as a first language is compulsory. Welsh is taught at all educational levels to varying degrees, from pre-school level to university; the level of provision varies a great deal between localities. At the primary level, 44 thousand pupils receive their education through the medium of Welsh, and 165 thousand children are taught Welsh as a subject. At the secondary level, 20 thousand pupils receive most of their instruction in Welsh, out of a total number of 189 thousand. At university level, there are a restricted number of courses available through the medium of Welsh.

Gaelic

Gaelic speakers are found in all parts of Scotland, but the main concentration is in the Western Isles. The 1991 census indicated that there were about 67.000 speakers of Gaelic.

Since 1918 education acts have provided for teaching Gaelic in Gaelic-speaking areas, but development was very slow until Gaelic became an initial teaching medium in the Gaelic areas of Inverness-shire and Ross-shire from 1958. In 1975 the newly-created Western Isles education authority introduced bilingual primary education shortly followed by Highland Region in Skye. Gaelic-medium primary education commenced with two schools in 1985, growing to 42 units by 1993/94.

In further education the Gaelic-medium college Sabhal Mor Ostaig has since 1984 run courses in business studies, computer studies, and television training. At university level there are Celtic Studies courses at Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Irish

Irish is spoken by a number of families and communities scattered throughout the six counties of Northern Ireland. The 1991 census revealed that there are  142.000 people in Northern Ireland claiming knowledge of the language (this includes people who do not claim ability to speak the language). 1% claimed to use Irish on a daily bases.

Cornish

Cornish is being revived in Cornwall. According to estimates, Cornish is spoken fluently by about 200 people, and with varying levels of fluency by a few thousand people.

Where there are teachers available the local authorities have given some support for the teaching of Cornish in the primary schools. Training courses for teachers and study packs have also been provided by the local authorities. There seem to be about a dozen schools where Cornish is taught as a >fun= activity.

Scots

From the Border regions adjoining England throughout the Lowlands areas Scots is spoken in a variety of dialects. The General Register Office (Scotland) in 1996 estimated the number of Scots speakers at 1.5 million. Other surveys have suggested higher numbers.

Scots is actively encouraged in schools by the 5-14 Curriculum Guidelines. An Advanced Higher (6th year secondary schools) in Scots language is now an option for pupils. the oldest Scottish universities - Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St. Andrews all now teach Scots.

Ulster Scots

Ulster Scots speakers are found in all parts of northern Ireland but the main concentrations are in Counties Down, Antrim, north and west Londenderry, north and west Tyrone and spilling accross the border into east Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. The census does not include a question on the Ulster-Scots language. From studies that were done in the 1960s it was estimated that there were 168.000 native speakers with 10.000 to 15.000 monoglot speakers and the rest bilingual. It is now estimated that this has declined to 100.000 with 5.000 to 10.000 monoglot speakers. Ulster-Scots survives mainly as a spoken language with very few speakers literate in the language. There are very few revivalist speakers.

Eurostat surveys showed that 9% of the population of the UK can take part in a conversation in French and 5% in German.

On 15-01-98 the United Kingdom has ratified the European Framework Convention of National Minorities.

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