LL-L "Language politics' 2007.02.23 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

L O W L A N D S - L - 23 February 2007 - Volume 01

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language politics

Below please find a copy of an article published in the latest edition of
EUROLANG (www.eurolang.net/).  Within our focus, it pertains to Dutch
(Western Flemish), marginally also to Alsatian.

Below that there is an article pertaining to Frisian.

Finally, there is an article about Scotlands language policy.

Which reminds me of what I heard about Britain's latest law (proposal?)
according to which immigrants are to be tested for English proficiency.  I
thought that the United Kingdom (like the USA) doesn't have an official
language.  If so, how can such a law be enacted?  The same sort of gray zone
exists in the USA where immigrants are given English tests as a part of the
naturalization process.  From a practical standpoint this may make sense.
But it seems to me that there is a legal problem here, and I am surprised
that the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) or immigrants' associations
have not challenged this in a court of law.

Have a good weekend!

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

***
EBLUL France calls for the official recognition of France's regional
languages

Brussel - Bruxelles, Friday, 16 February 2007 by Davyth Hicks

EBLUL France and the Association des Rencontres des langues et cultures
régionales ou minoritaires have launched an online petition calling on the
French presidential candidates for the official recognition of France's
regional languages.

The petition calls for "the right to education about (and in) the regional
language and culture, the right to day-long state sponsored radio and TV
channels and to create a climate of respect for regional languages."

In order to achieve this the petitioners are calling for the French state to
conform to international law on the issue, to a modification of the French
constitution so as to give official recognition to its regional languages,
to ratify the European Charter for Regional of Minority Languages, and to
give the regional governments that have regional languages the means to
develop them.

The petition comes in the wake of comments in January from the far right
Front National MEP, Marine le Pen, who on France 5 'Ripostes' programme
described "bilingualism as a handicap to integration", and which Breton
activists have said has led to several bilingual signs in Brittany having
the Breton section of the sign defaced.  Such incidents highlight the fact
that none of France's regional language speakers have any means of legal
recourse in order to ensure the promotion and development for their
languages.

Meanwhile, on March 17th there will be a demonstration on behalf of Occitan
in Beziers. (Eurolang 2007)

Language rights petition http://www.desdroitspournoslangues.org/index.html

Occitan demonstration http://manifestar.online.fr/

***
New Dutch education minister attacks both Frisian and multilingualism in the
European Parliament

Ljouwert, Fryslân, Thursday, 15 February 2007 by Onno P. Falkena

Frisian activists have expressed their disappointment with the surprise
appointment of social democrat Ronald Plasterk, known for his anti-Frisian
language views, as the new Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science.

When Mr Plastersk was the main columnist on the Dutch TV programme
'Buitenhof' a few years ago, he told viewers that it is impossible to take
Frisian seriously as a subject at school. "Isn't it strange that pupils in
Friesland are allowed to muddle through in their dialect, instead of
choosing a serious object like biology?''  Said Plasterk, a microbiologist
himself, on television. "I am not opposed to Frisian, as long as everyone
understands that this language is just a fairytale. Frisian is Dutch with a
phonetic orthography and a dialectal pronuncation.''

Plasterk's view, however, contradicts the official position of the new Dutch
cabinet, which states that the Frisian language will continue to enjoy the
same status and amount of support.

"As soon as we heard about the appointment of Plasterk, we realised that he
is bad news for the Frisian language'', explains Johannes Kramer, the
Frisian National Party leader. According to Kramer, Plasterk will not have
the power to hurt the position of Frisian, which has been layed down in
legislation, but he might complicate things. In the Netherlands the Fryslân
Province and the Dutch Government share responsibility for the teaching of
Frisian. Both parties recently reached an agreement about a new approach for
the teaching of Frisian. "In this agreement the minister of education is an
important partner. The appointment of a new minister with such a negative
attitude does not help'', Kramer adds.

Apart from declaring Frisian a "fairytale" Mr. Plasterk seems to lack any
understanding or sympathy for the multilingual reality of the European
Parliament. Last Sunday Plasterk argued in his column, entitled 'Babylon in
Brussel', that the European Parliament should not be entrusted with more
power unless it agrees to use English as its only means of communication.
"There are no other international organisations where the partners do not
agree to speak one common language, which is usually English. The European
Parliament is a circus with its 25 languages. The only reason they do this
is machoism. The French do not want to be less than the English, the Spanish
follow their example. It is childish behaviour, nothing else.'' (Eurolang
2007)

Plasterk's column on Frisian
http://www.vpro.nl/data/2137119/item.shtml?2723031 (Dutch only)

Omrop Fryslan website of the Frisian broadcaster (Frisian, Dutch, English)
http://www.omropfryslan.nl

Plasterk's article 'Babylon in Brussel'
http://www.vpro.nl/programma/buitenhof/afleveringen/32325271/items/33160575/(Dutch
only)

***

Scots and Gaelic-speakers disappointed over Languages Strategy for Scotland

Glaschu - Glasgow, Tuesday, 13 February 2007 by Màrtainn MacLeòid

The Scottish Executive is currently seeking views on Scotland's first ever
languages strategy which it says "aims to raise the profile of the diverse
languages spoken in Scotland, to ensure that Scotland's linguistic heritage
is recognized as a national resource and to encourage citizens to learn
languages other than their own."

The Strategy for Scotland's Languages emphasises the need to equip all Scots
with fluent English language skills, not Scots or Gaelic, as well as
promoting linguistic diversity and multilingualism including British Sign
Language and ethnic community languages. Instead it proposes the "protection
and promotion of Gaelic", as well as a pledge that the Scots language will
be treated with "pride and respect." The importance of promoting more
effective learning of major world languages through schools and both further
and higher education is also stressed.

The strategy has proved to be a disappointment for Scots and Gaelic language
activists and to those involved in language development in general.

Controversially, the document contends that Scots is not an endangered
language. This statement has met with concern from Scots activists who feel
that this may be an excuse by the Executive for inaction rather than an
honest celebration of the language's vitality.

While Culture Minister, Patricia Ferguson, has stated that the strategy aims
to provide a "coherent approach to guide the development of languages in
Scotland", the document has been criticized for failing to make any
significant new provision for Scotland's languages. No new initiatives or
expenditure are announced for either Scots or Gaelic.

Concern has also been expressed as to its timing. Despite being a manifesto
pledge of the current Executive, elected in 2003, it has been published just
three months before the next Scottish Parliament election which is to be
held in May and which makes the strategy vulnerable to any reshuffle or
change of emphasis within the governing parties or any change in
administration following the election.

Reacting to the draft strategy, Michael Hance, director of the Scots
Language Centre, said:  "I have examined the proposals in the strategy today
and can't understand why the Executive has taken four years to produce this
document. From the point of view of the Scots language, apart from the
numerous errors of fact, there appears to be very little on offer that
doesn't exist already".

Language policy specialist Dr. Wilson McLeod of Edinburgh University
similarly stated: "The Executive's languages strategy is seriously
disappointing. It doesn't even deserve to be called a 'strategy', which
implies some kind of coordinated plan and a designated goal or destination.
This document is simply a list of various things the Executive is doing
already, most of which are inadequate to meet the needs of the language
communities or languages learners involved."

The consultation process on the Strategy for Scotland's Languages runs until
March 19. (Eurolang 2007)

Links:

Scottish Executive consultation paper
www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/01/24130746/0

Scots Language Centre www.scotslanguage.com

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