Indigenous, Minority and Lesser-Used Languages

Overview

Language is fundamental to the rich and varied culture, and diverse heritages, of the BIC’s eight Member Administrations.

The British-Irish Council Work Sector on Indigenous, Minority and Lesser-Used Languages (IML) focuses on nine such languages spoken across these islands: Cornish, Gaelic, Guernesiais, Irish, Jèrriais, Manx, Scots, Ulster-Scots, and Welsh.

Each IML language has its own characteristics in terms of the number of speakers and the extent of ordinary social use. Coming together in this Work Sector allows to share good practice and experience. This in turn can be a real source of inspiration to BIC administrations, while nurturing productive new connections and relationships with others in the same field.

Lead Administration

The IML Work Sector was established in 2009 and is chaired by the Welsh Government.

Current Focus

The current Forward Work Plan was agreed in October 2023, at a Ministerial meeting hosted by the Government of Jersey.  The current focus is:

• Social Use of Indigenous, Minority and Lesser-Used Languages
• Linguistic Infrastructure
• Culture

Resources

• 2026 International Mother Language Day – Game
• IML Languages Factsheet
• Spotify Playlist: here

IML Languages Phrase Sheets

Click below for a list of thematic words / phrases in all nine IML languages – give them a go!

• Greetings
• Culture and music
• Early Years
• BIC (Published to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement)
• The Environment (Published for UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) Glasgow
• The Environment (Published for the Environment Ministerial meeting, May 2025)
• Housing (Published for the Housing Ministerial meeting, September 2024)
• Planning and Places (Published for the Planning and Places Ministerial meeting, November 2025)
• The Spring