Ulster Scots language

The Ulster Scots language is a minority language of Northern Ireland, which comprises a large part of the region of Ireland traditionally called Ulster. Opinions vary as to whether Ulster Scots is a dialect of Lowland Scots or an independent language closely related to it. In either case, they are both members of the Germanic language family, most closely related to English.

Neither language should be confused with Scots Gaelic, which is a Celtic language related to Irish Gaelic and Manx Gaelic.

In the same way that use of Irish Gaelic in Northern Ireland is sometimes a political sign of the faction that desires all of Ireland to be united and sovereign, use of Ulster Scots is sometimes a sign of the faction that desires Northern Ireland to remain in the union with Great Britain.