Transcript European language policies, linguistic rights and attitudes with regard to the Frisian language Dr.

European language policies,
linguistic rights and
attitudes with regard to the
Frisian language
Dr. Alex Riemersma
Strasbourg, 15 October, 2012
FCNM - Council of Europe
www.mercator-research.eu
Introduction
• Frisian in the Netherlands:
command, attitudes and practice
• Frisian language planning &
• Language promotion activities
• Links between Fryslân and Europe
Frisian in Fryslân (Netherlands)
• Autochthonous minority language
• Western Germanic language
• Spoken in one province (out of 12) in the
Netherlands: Fryslân / Friesland
• Fryslân has 640,000 inhabitants
• 55% has Frisian as mother tongue
• School subject and medium of instruction
Frisian Language Command
100
94
74
75
65
50
25
0
17
understand
speak
read
write
Status of Frisian
• Unique minority language in
homogeneous linguistic area
• No Language Act, but Covenant (1989)
• Recognised in the European Charter –
part III + 48 undertakings (1996)
• National Minority in the FCNM (2005)
• Ambition: development of cultural
language on equal footing with Dutch
Etnicity & Language Attitude
• 76% of Frisian mother speakers consider
themselves firstly “Frisians” – 22% “Dutch”
• 54% of non-Frisian speakers consider
themselves firstly “Frisians”
- 20% “Dutch” / - 27% as “non-Frisian”
• “Frisian language and culture belongs to
our common heritage”
Language Attitude
• 84% of all inhabitants is in favour of
language maintenance (and use of its own
language) in the united Europe
• However, nobody is mono-lingual
• No: either – or
• But: and – and > personal plurilingualism
and multilingual society
•
Trilingual Primary Education
•
•
•
•
Group 1-6 (4-10 years):
50% Frisian, 50% Dutch
Group 7-8 (11-12 years):
40% Frisian, 40% Dutch, 20% English
All languages as Subject & Medium
“Early English” (from 4 years onwards)
Trilingual Secondary Education
•
Subject Frisian – obligatory only in lower grades
•
Optional:
Medium of instruction Frisian, f.e. history
Medium of instruction English, f.e. mathematics
•
Optional Exam Subject
Trilingual Higher Education
•
Subject Frisian – obligatory in teacher training
for primary school (7 or 9 ECTS)
•
Optional:
Bachelor Frisian & Master of Education >
teacher for secondary education
•
Master Multilingualism (60 ECTS) from 2013
Frisian Culture to Europe
• 2001 European Year of Languages
> Frisian poem “Bitterswiet” translated into
82 languages; permanent attention at the
radio broadcasting of Omrop Fryslân
• 1990 Frisian Song Contest “Liet”
> Liet International for European regional
and minority languages as from 2002:
Ljouwert – Östersund – Luleå – L‘orient –
Chichon
Frisian Language Birth - Bag
Language bag
for new borns
–
Aim to
strengthen the
awareness for
conscious
(multilingual)
upbringing
Parents
MELT - EU project (2009-2011)
Brochure for parents & Guide for
pre-school practitioners (0-4 years)
Brochure published in
eight languages (and more):
• Frisian-Dutch
• Welsh-English
• Swedish-Finnish
• Breton-French
• Translations planned into: German,
Niederdeutsch, Corsican, Bildtsk.
MELT Guide for pre-school practitioners
Tomke
Dewin
Telling story's with concrete
materials
Goals of those activities:
• Identification
• Methodology of story telling
• Immersion
• Interaction
• Increase vocabulary
Playing games
Frisian Language in Practice
• Strong Oral Language
• Element of Social Cohesion through:
- Sports
- Associations
• Cultural participation in amateur theatre,
music and performances
• Present in media: radio & t.v.
• “Cool” for use at social media
Europe and Fryslân
• Fitting in EU policy towards:
- linguistic diversity
- mother tongue + 2 more languages
• Frisian as a good example in Europe:
- multilingualism of the individual citizen
and of the society
• Pupils feel at ease:
at home, at school, in society, in Europe
Network of Schools
Cultural Capital of Europe
www.mercator-research.eu
Köszönöm
Tankewol
Eskerrik asko
Grazia
Mercé plan
Dankscheen
Graciis
Kiitos
Diolch
Dz'akuju so
Spassi Ba
Hvala
Mange Takk
Trugarez
À ringraziavvi