By Callum Darragh

Did you know that there are at least five indigenous languages in the British Isles other than English? These include Cornish in Cornwall, Welsh in Wales, Manx on the Isle of Man (a Crown Dependency closely linked to the UK), Scottish Gaelic in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and Irish in Northern Ireland. Not all of these languages are widely spoken today, and some have come close to extinction in the recent past. Many would argue that it is simply more practical to rely on English. So, why bother?

Because there is so much more to learn and explore

For me, it comes down to identity. My maternal great-grandfather, Heinrich Bobka, from the Spreewald region of south‑east Germany, was a Sorb. The Sorbs are a West Slavic minority in eastern Germany, with a long and distinct cultural and linguistic history. Their language, Sorbian, is related to other Slavic languages, but is unique in its own right, with fewer than 40,000 speakers today.

What I find striking is the endurance of this language. Despite periods of marginalisation and a steady decline in the number of speakers, Sorbian has survived for over a thousand years. A community has continued to cherish and sustain it across generations. That continuity is deeply compelling — and part of that heritage is in me, even though I do not speak the language myself.

The poetry of languages

There are echoes of identity in my family history elsewhere too. My paternal ancestors moved from Ireland to Scotland, and that Celtic heritage resonates strongly with me. My name, Callum, comes from Scottish Gaelic and means ‘white dove’. My surname, Darragh, derives from the Irish Daire, meaning ‘oak tree’. These linguistic threads carry meaning, memory and connection across time.

Language embodies culture, identity and community

Languages, dialects and regional varieties are part of the fabric of who we are. They reflect ancestry, history, place and belonging. For many, there is a strong sense of pride in speaking a language or variety that expresses something distinctive about their identity.

Language brings culture, identity and community together. That applies not only to long‑established minority languages, but also to the languages of migrant communities, which contribute richly to the UK’s linguistic and cultural landscape. All deserve recognition and respect as part of a diverse and evolving society.

Each of us can make a difference

We can each play a part in sustaining linguistic diversity. Encouraging people to explore their heritage languages or simply to take an interest in the linguistic richness around them can help strengthen connection and understanding.

I would not wish to be without English. It is a language of extraordinary global reach and utility. But I hope, at some point in my life, to learn Sorbian, to reconnect in some small way with a language that has faded from my own family.

All languages and dialects have value. As linguists, and as a society more broadly, anything we can do to understand, protect and sustain them is worthwhile.

Callum Darragh, is a Sworn Translator based in Luxembourg and is Member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists.

You can reach Callum on LinkedIn and via his website.

Views expressed on CIOL Voices are those of the writer and may not represent those of the wider membership or CIOL.