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Multilingualism for all: European Language Policy Developments & Challenges

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

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Multilingualism for all: European Language Policy Developments & Challenges

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  1. 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

  2. Overview of presentation • Scope of European Language Policies • - Language Vitality • - Language Programmes • - Teacher Training

  3. 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

  4. Kaart fan NOS

  5. 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

  6. 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)

  7. 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)

  8. EU Language Policy However: • Mother tongue = state language • Principle of “subsidiarity” • Process of mainstreamingprevents EU Language Policy & discourages vitality of RMLs

  9. Unesco Language Vitality (2003)

  10. 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

  11. Language Vitality factors (3) • Governmental and Institutional Language Attitudes & Politics • Community Member’s Attitudes towards their own languages • Documentation (& corpus planning)

  12. Language Vitality Planning • Balance of community language will and infrastructure / programmes on: • Corpus planning / standardisation • Status planning / legislation • Language transmission / learning

  13. 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)

  14. 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

  15. 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)

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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)

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. Research Agenda • Eurobarometer on Languages to include:Mother tongue + father tongue / Language of preference • Multilingual education: continuity • Media >>> Social media • Plurilingual Literacy • Electronic dictionaries

  22. 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

  23. Common Standards Education • Mercator Analysis & Recommendations (2007):- Informed choice & guaranteed access- Educational goals- Teaching time (subject & medium) - Teaching materials- Teacher training- Inspectorate

  24. Plurilingual Teacher Training • Subject & medium • Continuity of teaching & learning • School as centres of excellence • Plurilingual language pedagogy • Master on Multilingualism and multilingual education

  25. Tankewol • Eskerrik asko • Köszönöm • Grazia • Mercé plan • Dankscheen • Graciis • Kiitos • Diolch • Dz'akuju so • Hvala • Merci • Mange Takk • Trugarez • Multumesc

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