Sir, - I was disappointed to find that in writing about the new cross-border body on language, as agreed on December 18th, Pol O Muiri (Tuarascail, January 13th) has described Ulster-Scots as a canuint or dialect.
Whatever his own personal views about Ulster-Scots the fact is that this is a cross-border body on "language", with two sections, one for the Irish language and one for the Ulster-Scots language. The December agreement specifically recognises Ulster-Scots as a language. Pol persists in using the word "dialect" but he should not allow his own personal prejudices to influence him into misrepresenting the situation in this way.
I find it particularly disappointing that Irish language journalist should write about Ulster-Scots in this way. To dismiss the Ulster-Scots language as a dialect is offensive to the Ulster-Scots language movement. The fact that he has chosen to do this in his Irish language column is particularly unhelpful to those of us who are seeking to promote genuine cultural inclusiveness and genuine linguistic diversity. - Yours, etc., Nelson McCausland, Director/Heich heid yin, Ulster-Scots Heritage Council/Ulster-Scotch Heirskip Council,
York Street, Belfast 15.