LL-L: "Language policies" LOWLANDS-L, 13.APR.2000 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 13.APR.2000 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachean, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
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From: john feather [johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk]
Subject: Language policies

Nigel posted a message containing:

>Eurolang's editor-in-chief, Brussels-based, Irish-speaking Dubliner John
Walsh, points to the 40 million-plus people within the European Community
who use a tongue other than the main official language of the state in which
they live: "The numbers speak for themselves - you're talking about a
considerable minority. Frequently such communities are the victims of social
and economic exclusion, or even blatant discrimination by state authorities.
So the inclusion in the proposed charter of a clause specifically related to
their protection and promotion would be hugely significant."<

I recall a similar statement about numbers fairly recently. Does anybody
know for certain what the figure of 40 million refers to? Is it the number
of people who speak "indigenous" minority languages or the number who speak
any language other than the national one(s)? (London's schoolchildren are
said to speak over 150 languages between them.) How are London's expatriate
EC nationals classified?

John Feather
johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk

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