LL-L "Language politics" 2009.05.13 (01) [DE-EN-NL]

Wed May 13 16:03:00 UTC 2009

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L O W L A N D S - L - 13 May 2009 - Volume 01
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From: Roger Thijs, Euro-Support, Inc. <roger.thijs at euro-support.be>
Subject: LL-L Language Politics

 I understand there are 2 European treaties:
- one for recognizing the *existence of minority languages* ECRML
- one for *supporting the minority groups* *related to*, among others, *a
minority language* FCNM

Does anyone have an idea why the Germans included *Low Saxon* in the first
group only?
I guess a Regional language  (Regionalsprache) is not supposed by the
Germans to get the same protection as a Minority
language (Minderheitensprache)? However a regional language can become a
minority language, I think.
FCNM is apparently much stronger for getting one's rights protected in
courts.

I understood at the conference in Leuven last week that Irish cannot be
protected by the FCNM in Ireland, since it is formally the first language in
the Irish constitution, and by this, it cannot be considered as a minority
language.

Some references:

*1 - ECRML*
http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/en/Treaties/Html/148.htm
http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/EN/Reports/Html/148.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Charter_for_Regional_or_Minority_Languages
The *European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages* (*ECRML*) is a
European treaty <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty> (CETS 148) adopted in
1992 under the auspices of the Council of
Europe<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Europe>to protect and
promote historical
regional <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_language> and minority
languages <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minority_language> in
Europe<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe>
.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuropÃ¤ische_Charta_der_Regional-_oder_Minderheitensprachen<http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europ%C3%A4ische_Charta_der_Regional-_oder_Minderheitensprachen>
Die Charta wurde durch die Bundesregierung 1998 ratifiziert. Durch
Hinterlegung beim Europarat verpflichtet sich Deutschland fÃ¼nf
Minderheitensprachen und eine Regionalsprache zu schÃ¼tzen, wobei sich die
MaÃŸnahmen auf die BundeslÃ¤nder beschrÃ¤nken, in denen die Sprache verbreitet
ist. Die Minderheitensprachen:
DÃ¤nisch<http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A4nische_Sprache>(in
Schleswig-Holstein), Sorbisch (
Obersorbisch <http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obersorbisch> in Sachsen,
Niedersorbisch <http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niedersorbisch> in
Brandenburg), Nordfriesisch <http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordfriesisch> (in
Schleswig-Holstein),
Saterfriesisch<http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saterfriesisch>(in
Niedersachsen) und
Romanes <http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanes> (geschÃ¼tzt nach Teil 2 seit
1998, erst spÃ¤ter HinzufÃ¼gung nach Teil 3 in Hessen). Die Regionalsprache
Niederdeutsch <http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niederdeutsch> (in Bremen,
Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen und Schleswig-Holstein nach
Teil 3, in Brandenburg, Nordrhein-Westfalen und Sachsen-Anhalt nach Teil 2).

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europees_Handvest_voor_regionale_talen_of_talen_van_minderheden
Land Ondertekening Geratificeerd Inwerkingtreding Erkende talen
Duitsland 05-11-1992 16-09-1998 01-01-1999 Deens, Nederduits, Nedersorbisch,
Noord-Fries, Oppersorbisch, Romani, Saterfries
Nederland 05-11-1992 02-05-1996 01-03-1998 Fries, Jiddisch, Limburgs,
Nedersaksisch, Romani
Verenigd Koninkrijk 02-03-2000 27-03-2001 01-07-2001 Cornisch,
Iers-Gaelisch, Manx-Gaelisch, Schots en Ulster Schots, Schots-Gaelisch,
Welsh

*2 - FCNM*
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/1_AtGlance/PDF_H(1995)010_FCNM_ExplanReport_en.pdf<http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/1_AtGlance/PDF_H%281995%29010_FCNM_ExplanReport_en.pdf>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framework_Convention_for_the_Protection_of_National_Minorities
In February 1995, 22 member States of the Council of
Europe<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Europe>,
signed the *Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities*
In the 2006 UK Government's draft 'UK Framework Convention Compliance
Report', the Cornish <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_people> ethnicity
was the only group specifically mentioned as being excluded. The UK has
stated to the Council of Europe that it does not know which groups are
covered since there is no official list of groups but despite this admission
they still feel able to assert that they comply fully with the Framework
Convention.
**
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaderverdrag_inzake_de_bescherming_van_nationale_minderheden
Land / Ondertekening / Ratificatie / Van kracht / Nationale minderheden
(indien gespecifieerd)
*Duitsland* 11-05-1995 10-09-1997 01-02-1998 Denen, Sorben; tevens
bescherming van Friezen, Roma en Sinti
*Nederland* 01-02-1995 16-02-2005 01-06-2005 Friezen
**
*Reports about Germany:*
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/Table_en.asp#Germany

*1th reporting cycle*
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/PDF_1st_SR_Germany_en.pdf
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/PDF_1st_OP_Germany_en.pdf
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/PDF_1st_Com_Germany_en.pdf
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/PDF_1st_CM_Res_Germany_en.pdf

*2d reporting cycle*
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/PDF_2nd_SR_Germany_en.pdf
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/PDF_2nd_OP_Germany_en.pdf
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/PDF_2nd_Com_Germany_en.pdf
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/PDF_2nd_CM_Res_Germany_en.pdf
**
*3d reporting cycle*
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/PDF_3rd_SR_Germany_en.pdf

Regards,
Roger

----------

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

Thanks, Roger.

You asked:

Does anyone have an idea why the Germans included *Low Saxon* in the first
group only?

In Germany, speakers of Low Saxon are not considered a separate ethnic
group. In other words, they are considered ethnic Germans. (References to
the Old Saxons are kept to a minimum for public consumption outside the
academic realm, hence the re-christening of Old Saxon to "Old Low German"
and Middle Saxon to "Middle Low German".) Maybe this answers your question.

On the bright side, this at least represents a departure from the old model
"one ethnicity = one language".

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

•

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