Multilingualism for all: European Language Policy Developments & Challenges “Language(s) as...
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Transcript of Multilingualism for all: European Language Policy Developments & Challenges “Language(s) as...
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
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
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