Multilingualism for all: European Language Policy

Developments & Challenges

“Language(s) as Cultural Asset”University of Applied Sciences, Campus Urstein

Salzburg / Austria – Österreich, March 17, 2011

Alex RIEMERSMA

Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning

www.mercator-research.eu

Overview of presentation

Scope of European Language Policies

- Language Vitality

- Language Programmes

- Teacher Training

Linguistic Diversity

Globe: 6,000 languages Council of Europe (47 member states):

6 working languageshundreds of state, cross border / minority languages

European Union (27 member states):23 official languages> 60 Regional and Minority Languages

Kaart fan NOS

RML citizens in EU

10% of EU population = 45 – 50 million plurilingual people

Present in all member states = Multilingual societies >>>

Co-responsibility for language planning of EU/CoE, national and regional level

Charter for Regional and Minority Languages (CoE / 1998)

To protect and to promote

Non-discrimination

Domains: education / justice / public services / media / culture / social lifeHowever:

25 ratifications (< 47 CoE member states)

13 ratifications (< 27 EU member states)

EU Language Policy

EU shall respect … linguistic diversity Linguistic diversity: all languages are

equal and equally treated Lisbon (2002): Mother tongue + 2 Maalouf (2008): Adoptive language European Charter for Regional and

Minority Languages of CoE (1998) entry exam for new EU member states (2004)

EU Language Policy

However:

Mother tongue = state language

Principle of “subsidiarity”

Process of mainstreaming

prevents EU Language Policy & discourages vitality of RMLs

Unesco Language Vitality (2003)

Language Vitality factors (6)

Intergenerational transmission

Absolute number of speakers

Proportion of speakers within total population

Trends in existing domains

Response to new domains & media

Materials for Education and Literacy

Language Vitality factors (3)

Governmental and Institutional Language Attitudes & Politics

Community Member’s Attitudes towards their own languages

Documentation (& corpus planning)

Language Vitality Planning

Balance of community language will and infrastructure / programmes on:

Corpus planning / standardisation

Status planning / legislation

Language transmission / learning

Frisian Language Vitality Language command of all 640.00 inhabitants

province of Fryslân:

94 % Understanding

74 % Speaking

65 % Reading

26 % Writing-------------------------------------------------

54 % Frisian Mother tongue (350.000)

Language Planning Australia

National Survey 2005:250 known indigenous languages;

145 still in use of which 110 endangered;

18 strong enough to survive

National Action Programme 2009:

- language learning centres & nests

- language documentation and research

EU Parliament Resolutions

1981 Arfé > EBLUL 1982 – 2006

1983 Jaak Vandenmeulenbroecke) > earmarked budget line € 1,2 million

1987 Willy Kuijpers > Mercator project (1987-2006) 3 partners (80 % funding)

2004 Michael Ebner > EU Agency onLinguistic Diversity (failed)

EU Commission Actions

Budget line for EBLUL 1982 – 2006;

Budget line for Mercator project (1987-2006) 3 partners

Action Programme (2004-2006)

2001: European Year of Languages

2005: Feasibility Study > Networks

EU Commission Actions

2007: High Level Group Multilingualism+ on line consultation

2008: EU Communication 2008: Amin Maalouf Report

A Rewarding Challenge (adoptive language)

2011: Civil Society Platform on Multilingualism

EU funded Networks

2008-2011: Network to Promote Linguistic Diversity (NPLD): 11 regional authorities & 16 NGO’s

2009-2011: Mercator Network

2009-2011: RML2future

2010-2012: European Network of Universities on Multilingualism (EUNoM)

Coherent EU Language Policy

Legal base / treaty partner to European Charter for RML

Vitality & empowerment of all languages Co-responsibility in stead of “subsidiarity” Incentive to inclusiveness of RML / IML Partnership to permanent networks of

stakeholders for regular strategic review

EU fitting Programmes

Linguistic Diversity as a priority

Lowering of thresholds for grants for smaller language communities

National EU Agencies to raise awareness and assist endangered language communities to apply

Research Agenda

Eurobarometer on Languages to include:Mother tongue + father tongue / Language of preference

Multilingual education: continuity Media >>> Social media Plurilingual Literacy Electronic dictionaries

Application of CoE instruments

Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): - can do – statements for L1, L2, Lf - parallel assessments of L1, L2, Lf

European Language Portfolio:- electronic - plurilingual approach

Common Standards Education

Mercator Analysis & Recommendations (2007):- Informed choice & guaranteed access- Educational goals- Teaching time (subject & medium) - Teaching materials- Teacher training- Inspectorate

Plurilingual Teacher Training

Subject & medium

Continuity of teaching & learning

School as centres of excellence

Plurilingual language pedagogy

Master on Multilingualism and multilingual education

• Eskerrik asko

• Mange Takk

• Diolch

Tankewol

• Trugarez

• Grazia

• Graciis

• Dankscheen • Mercé plan

• Kiitos

• Dz'akuju so

• Köszönöm

• Hvala

• Multumesc

• Merci