What policy of multilingualism can foster European identity formation?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.12.2015.37.08Keywords:
multilingualism, European identity, language policy, European integrationAbstract
By the end of the first decade of the 21st Century, European policies on languages were in a situation of flux. Between roughly 1985 and 2005 there was a relatively smooth development characterized by an implicit and explicit commitment to multilingualism. More recently, however, things have appeared rather less clear cut, both internationally and in individual countries. This paper problematizes the interplay between language and identity, which although not a new issue, takes on particular significance in the mobile, interconnected world of the 21st century. Drawing on the data collected in three major surveys in 2012, it touches upon two major issues: 1) the reality of individual multilingualism in fostering the sense of community among Europeans and as a factor for European identity formation; and 2) broadening of the traditional concept of language policy – from its narrow content as language planning of the national or official language to a broader concept including a wider range of agents, types of activities, level of explicitness and concreteness of application. Is there a need to develop specific language policies “beyond the state” in regions or more commonly in multilingual cities as its natural locus? The paper argues that the essentially liberal world view of multilingualism creating mutual understanding is rather more nuanced when it comes to reflections on the impact of language on identity and on European identity in particular. It also argues for re‑scoping and re‑thinking of the European model of multilingualism.
Downloads
References
Bruter M., Citizens of Europe? The Emergence of Mass European Identity, Houndmills 2005. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230501539
Bucholz M., Hall K., ‘Language and Identity’ in A. Duranti (ed.), A Companion to Linguistic Anthropology, Malden–
Oxford 2004 (Blackwell Companions to Social and Cultural Anthropology).
Castells M., The Power of Identity, Malden 1997.
Council of Europe, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, Cambridge 2001.
Council of the European Union, Council Resolution on a “European strategy for multilingualism”, 2008/C 320/01, 21 November 2008.
Crystal D., How Language Works. How Babies Babble, Words Change Meaning and Languages Live or Die, London 2007.
Declaration on European Identity, Copenhagen, 14 December 1973.
Deutsch K.W., Nationalism and Its Alternatives, New York 1969.
Deutsch K.W., Nationalism and Social Communication. An Inquiry into the Foundations of Nationality, New York 1953.
Deutsch K.W. et al., Political Community and the North Atlantic Area. International Organization in the Light of Historical Experience, Princeton 1957.
Eurobarometer, Europeans and their Languages, Special Eurobarometer 386, 2012, at <http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_en.pdf>.
Eurobarometer, New Europeans, Special Eurobarometer 346, 2011, at <http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_346_en.pdf>.
European Commission, Action plan “Promoting language learning and linguistic diversity” (2004‑2006), 2003.
European Commission, Commission staff working paper “Promoting Language Learning and Linguistic Diversity” – Consultation, SEC(2002) 1234, 13 November 2002.
European Commission, Multilingualism: an asset for Europe and a shared commitment, COM(2008) 566 final.
European Commission, A New Framework Strategy for Multilingualism, COM(2005) 596 final.
European Commission, Rethinking Education: Investing in skills for better socio‑economic outcomes, COM(2012) 669 final.
European Commission, Staff working document “Language competences for employability, mobility and growth”, SWD(2012) 372 final.
European Parliament, European Parliament Resolution on a “New Framework Strategy for Multilingualism”, 2006/2083(INI).
European Parliament, Resolution of 24 March 2009 on “Multilingualism: an asset for Europe and a shared commitment”, 2008/2225(INI).
Extra G., Yağmur K., Language Rich Europe. Trends in Policies and Practices for Multilingualism in Europe, Cambridge 2012.
Fligstein N., ‘Who Are the Europeans and How Does this Matter for Politics?’ in J.T. Checkel, P.J. Katzenstein (eds.), European Identity, Cambridge 2009 (Contemporary European Politics).
Habermas J., ‘Is the Development of a European Identity Necessary, and Is It Possible?’ in idem, The Divided West, trans. by C. Cronin, Cambridge 2006.
King L. et al., Languages in Europe towards 2020. Analysis and Proposals from the LETPP Consultation and Review, London 2011.
Risse T., A Community of Europeans? Transnational Identities and Public Spheres, Ithaca 2010 (Cornell Paperbacks).
Stoicheva M., Language Policies. Bulgaria‑Europe, Sofia 2011.
Vertovec S., ‘Super‑diversity and its Implications’, Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 30, No. 6 (2007), at <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01419870701599465>. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870701599465
White Paper on Education and Training – Towards the Learning Society, COM(95) 590 final, 29 November 1995. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.1995.tb02903.x
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.