Expressing identity through lesser-used languages: examples from the Irish and Galician contexts

This paper looks at the degree and way in which lesser-used languages are used as expressions of identity, focusing specifically on two of Europe's lesser-used languages. The first is Irish, spoken in the Republic of Ireland and the second is Galician, spoken in the Autonomous Community of Galicia in the North-western part of Spain. The paper reports on some of the findings of a study which looked at contemporary linguistic attitudes and ideologies amongst younger age groups within Irish and Galician societies