EU AND NATIONAL EU AND NATIONAL LANGUAGE POLICIES: LANGUAGE POLICIES:

PROTECTION OF THE STATE PROTECTION OF THE STATE AND MINORITY AND MINORITY

LANGUAGESLANGUAGES

Prof.Prof. Ina DRUVIETEIna DRUVIETEUniversity of LatviaUniversity of Latvia

Helsinki, 23 November 2007Helsinki, 23 November 2007

““Linguistic diversity is one of the Linguistic diversity is one of the European Union’ s defining features. European Union’ s defining features. Respect for the diversity of the Respect for the diversity of the Union’s languages is a founding Union’s languages is a founding principle of the European Union”.principle of the European Union”.

Promoting Language Learning and Linguistic Diversity: An Promoting Language Learning and Linguistic Diversity: An Action Plan 2004-2006. Brussels, 2003.Action Plan 2004-2006. Brussels, 2003.

The EU member states are responsible for The EU member states are responsible for the protection of linguistic diversity. the protection of linguistic diversity.

The states have the honour and moral duty The states have the honour and moral duty to protect, promote and study their to protect, promote and study their

autochthonous languages.autochthonous languages. Latvia is the only country of the world Latvia is the only country of the world

which can assume responsibility for which can assume responsibility for protection and development of the Latvian protection and development of the Latvian

language and the Liv language.language and the Liv language.

The Latvian language is:The Latvian language is:

1) the basis for national identity, 1) the basis for national identity, 2) the language of the integration of society, 2) the language of the integration of society,

3) part of the cultural heritage of the 3) part of the cultural heritage of the world.world.

Language maintenanceLanguage maintenance

Relative language stability in its number Relative language stability in its number and distribution of speakers.and distribution of speakers.

Proficient usage in children and adults.Proficient usage in children and adults. Retaining the use of language in all Retaining the use of language in all

sociolinguistic domains.sociolinguistic domains. Perception of language as a stable element Perception of language as a stable element

of national and ethnic identity.of national and ethnic identity.

Languages in the EULanguages in the EU

1) official and working languages (23),1) official and working languages (23),2) Language with special status in the 2) Language with special status in the

programmes (Luxembourgish) programmes (Luxembourgish) 3) Regional and minority languages:3) Regional and minority languages: 45 "lesser used languages" in “old” member 45 "lesser used languages" in “old” member

states, states, ?? in “new” member states,?? in “new” member states,4) non- territorial languages (Yiddish, Romani) 4) non- territorial languages (Yiddish, Romani) 5) diaspora languages of refugees and labor 5) diaspora languages of refugees and labor

migrants.migrants.

Language competition: Language competition: sociolinguistic factorsociolinguistic factorss

1. Quantity of speakers (including L2 1. Quantity of speakers (including L2 speakers).speakers).

2. Development of economy in the country.2. Development of economy in the country.3. Market for goods and services in the 3. Market for goods and services in the

language.language.4. Regional status, traditional use and 4. Regional status, traditional use and

learning in neighboring countries.learning in neighboring countries.5. Linguistic development (standardization, 5. Linguistic development (standardization,

terminology, software etc.).terminology, software etc.).

The most spoken languages...The most spoken languages...Language Speakers in

the EU (mill.)Speakers worldwide

English 65 402

Spanish 40 392

Portuguese 10 202

German 90 120

French 62 128

Dutch 18 21

… … and the other languagesand the other languagesSlovak 5.4 millionSlovak 5.4 millionFinnish 5.3 millionFinnish 5.3 million

Lithuanian 3.6 millionLithuanian 3.6 millionLatvian 2.3 millionLatvian 2.3 million

Slovenian 1.9 millionSlovenian 1.9 millionEstonian 1.4 millionEstonian 1.4 millionMaltese 0.3 millionMaltese 0.3 million

L2 skills in the EUL2 skills in the EU

English 34%English 34% German 12%German 12% French 11%French 11% Spanish 5%Spanish 5% Italian 2%Italian 2% Polish 1%Polish 1% Dutch 1%Dutch 1% All other EU languages 3%All other EU languages 3%

Eurobarometer 63.4, 2005Eurobarometer 63.4, 2005

Percentage of minorities among Percentage of minorities among total populationtotal population

% of minorities Countries

0-5% Austria, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, Finland*, Ireland*,

Belgium*, Cyprus*, Malta, Poland

5-10% France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic,

Hungary, Slovenia10-20% UK, Sweden, Lithuania, Slovakia,

Bulgaria

20-30% Spain

30-40% Luxembourg, Estonia, Romania

40-50% Latvia

The Latvian LanguageThe Latvian Language

Belongs to the Baltic group of the Indo-European Belongs to the Baltic group of the Indo-European family of languages.family of languages.

First written texts in the 16th century.First written texts in the 16th century. The only official State language in Latvia.The only official State language in Latvia. Native language for 1.5 million people (1.38 Native language for 1.5 million people (1.38

million in Latvia). L2 speakers - 0.4 million.million in Latvia). L2 speakers - 0.4 million. One of 200-250 languages out of 7000 in the One of 200-250 languages out of 7000 in the

world spoken by more than one million of people.world spoken by more than one million of people. Languages in competition - Russian and English, Languages in competition - Russian and English,

two international languages with high economic two international languages with high economic value.value.

Aims of the State Language Policy in Aims of the State Language Policy in Latvia:Latvia:

To ensure the sustainability, linguistic quality and To ensure the sustainability, linguistic quality and competitiveness of the Latvian language as the competitiveness of the Latvian language as the state language of the Republic of Latvia and the state language of the Republic of Latvia and the official language of the European Union in the official language of the European Union in the market of languages in Latvia and the world.market of languages in Latvia and the world.

To guarantee the opportunity to preserve, develop To guarantee the opportunity to preserve, develop and use in certain functions the languages of and use in certain functions the languages of minorities of Latvia.minorities of Latvia.

Legal and institutional protectionLegal and institutional protection

Status of Latvian in the Constitution (1988)Status of Latvian in the Constitution (1988)Language Law (1989, 1992)Language Law (1989, 1992)

State Language Proficiency Certification State Language Proficiency Certification Regulations (1992)Regulations (1992)

Regulations of the State Language Inspection Regulations of the State Language Inspection Board (1992)Board (1992)

Establishment of the State Language Centre Establishment of the State Language Centre (1992)(1992)

State Language Acquisition Programme (1995)State Language Acquisition Programme (1995)Law on the State Language (1999)Law on the State Language (1999)

State Language Commission (2002)State Language Commission (2002)State Language Agency (2004)State Language Agency (2004)

State Language Policy Programme (2006)State Language Policy Programme (2006)

LATVIA -2007LATVIA -2007

Latvians 58.9%Latvians 58.9%Russians 28.4%Russians 28.4%

Belarusians 3.8%Belarusians 3.8%Ukrainians 2.5%Ukrainians 2.5%

Poles 2.4%Poles 2.4%Lithuanians 1.4%Lithuanians 1.4%

Jews 0.5%Jews 0.5%Roma 0.4%Roma 0.4%Others 1.7%Others 1.7%

Positive factors for Latvian language Positive factors for Latvian language maintenancemaintenance

Sufficient number of L1 speakers and growing number of Sufficient number of L1 speakers and growing number of L2 speakers.L2 speakers.

Legal status of the official state language.Legal status of the official state language. The use in all sociolinguistic functions.The use in all sociolinguistic functions. The dominant use in higher education.The dominant use in higher education. High linguistic quality of Standard language (developed High linguistic quality of Standard language (developed

stylistic system and terminology).stylistic system and terminology). Legal and financial mechanisms for language protection. Legal and financial mechanisms for language protection. Status as one of the official EU languages.Status as one of the official EU languages.

Negative factors forLatvian language Negative factors forLatvian language maintenancemaintenance

Competition of languages that is unfavourable for the Competition of languages that is unfavourable for the respective language.respective language.

High economic value of the main languages in competition.High economic value of the main languages in competition. Insufficient and uneven enlargement of the environment of Insufficient and uneven enlargement of the environment of

the Latvian language.the Latvian language. Discrepancy between nominal and actual sociolinguistic Discrepancy between nominal and actual sociolinguistic

functions of the State language and minority language.functions of the State language and minority language. Decline of the quality of language in professional activities.Decline of the quality of language in professional activities. Narrowing of the cultural environment of the language.Narrowing of the cultural environment of the language. Adverse linguistic attitudes.Adverse linguistic attitudes. Uncertainty about the future language regime in the EU Uncertainty about the future language regime in the EU

institutions.institutions.

Member state’s/EU interaction areas:Member state’s/EU interaction areas:

Language regime in EU institutions Language regime in EU institutions (translation, interpretation)(translation, interpretation)

Language use in meetings and publicationsLanguage use in meetings and publications Terminology developmentTerminology development Language teaching and learningLanguage teaching and learning Language standardizationLanguage standardization

Education systems have to ensure high-Education systems have to ensure high-level multilingualism both among level multilingualism both among

students and staff avoiding subtractive students and staff avoiding subtractive bilingualism and allowing students to bilingualism and allowing students to

function at the international arena and function at the international arena and protecting national identity at the same protecting national identity at the same

time.time.

““Communicative competence in 1 + 2 languages Communicative competence in 1 + 2 languages (= first language plus two other languages) (= first language plus two other languages)

should be the minimum goal within the primary should be the minimum goal within the primary and secondary educational system of each and secondary educational system of each

country. If the learner’ s first language is not an country. If the learner’ s first language is not an official language of the country, one of the two official language of the country, one of the two

additional languages should be an officialadditional languages should be an official language.”language.”

(EFNIL Brussels Declaration, 2006)(EFNIL Brussels Declaration, 2006)

"It needs to be recognised that the trend in "It needs to be recognised that the trend in non-English speaking countries towards non-English speaking countries towards teaching through the medium of English, teaching through the medium of English,

instead of through the national and regional instead of through the national and regional language, may have unforeseen language, may have unforeseen

consequences for the vitality of those consequences for the vitality of those languages".languages".

(A new Framework Strategy for Multilingualism, 2005)(A new Framework Strategy for Multilingualism, 2005)

Domain loss in higher education will have a Domain loss in higher education will have a direct impact on:direct impact on:

……the other sociolinguistic domains, e.g. the other sociolinguistic domains, e.g. science,science,quality of language in general quality of language in general (terminology, academic writing, (terminology, academic writing, scientific popular literature,scientific popular literature,the language use and teaching/learning the language use and teaching/learning ideologies and practices in all the ideologies and practices in all the hierarchically subordinated education hierarchically subordinated education system. system.

Language standardization:Language standardization:

Use of diacritics !Use of diacritics ! EURO!EURO! Spelling of proper names!Spelling of proper names!

"One of the paradoxes of language "One of the paradoxes of language policy in the EU institutions is that policy in the EU institutions is that

languages are often regarded as languages are often regarded as purely practical, technical matters, purely practical, technical matters,

while at the same time they are while at the same time they are fundamental to personal, group and fundamental to personal, group and

national identity and national national identity and national interests"interests"

(Phillipson 2003: 21)(Phillipson 2003: 21)

Small official languages of the EU form Small official languages of the EU form a special group not sufficiently a special group not sufficiently

protected neither by market forces (as protected neither by market forces (as so-called international languages) , nor so-called international languages) , nor by international declarations, charters by international declarations, charters or conventions (as minority languages).or conventions (as minority languages).

It is necessary to develop both It is necessary to develop both dimensions: centralized EU activities dimensions: centralized EU activities and activities in the member-states. and activities in the member-states. There is an urgent need for more There is an urgent need for more definite language policy in the definite language policy in the European Union taking into account European Union taking into account sociolinguistic realities.sociolinguistic realities.

The Riga Resolution of EFNIL on National The Riga Resolution of EFNIL on National and European Language Policy (2007)and European Language Policy (2007)

““Successful co-ordination and co-Successful co-ordination and co-operation between the different operation between the different

national and European policies can national and European policies can only be achieved if the various only be achieved if the various

policy-making bodies and their ideas policy-making bodies and their ideas are linked. are linked.

““National and European policy National and European policy measures should be goal-oriented and measures should be goal-oriented and

bases on a sound knowledge of the bases on a sound knowledge of the linguistic facts.linguistic facts.