Category Archives: Europa

by monzo

The Labelling of Products in the European Union – Time for a more Coherent EU Language Policy

Stefaan VAN DER JEUGHT

The free movement of goods is one of the four core freedoms in the EU internal market. In that regard the linguistic diversity of the EU can form an obstacle to the achievement of that aim, when on a national or even subnational level specific regulatory linguistic requirements are imposed on the labelling of products. In this article, it will be shown that EU legislation does not tackle this issue in a general and uniform way, but proceeds rather on a case-to-case basis. The lack of a global and coherent policy in this regard has resulted in heterogeneous linguistic arrangements and lacking language rights for consumers. It is argued in this article that there is need for more coherent linguistic rights on the basis of clear and transparent general criteria such as product hazards, public health and consumer protection. As a general rule, a better balance should be struck between the essential principles underlying any linguistic regulatory provision, namely the freedom of language (for manufacturers, importers and distributors) to market their products in the EU internal market on the one hand, and the territoriality principle on the other, according to which Member States may determine the use of languages on their territory in order to protect the language rights of end-users and consumers.

Keywords: Product labelling, language rights of consumers

by monzo

Towards a multilingual modus operandi in the EU

Alice Leal

Associate Professor of Translation and Interpreting Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg

Multilingualism is one of the pillars of the European Union, enshrined – however precariously – in its treaties and indirectly celebrated in its motto, “united in diversity”. Its 24 official and working languages enjoy the same status, at least de jure, and so do all language versions of any given text (authentication of translations). 

Yet multilingualism no longer has its own portfolio in the Commission, having been systematically downgraded and now being under the auspices of the Directorate-General for Translation, a directorate which nevertheless does not have a unit dedicated to the fostering – or the very least the monitoring – of linguistic diversity in the EU. Moreover, with the rise of English as the EU’s unofficial lingua franca, increasingly more material is produced in English and not translated at all, and the vast majority of the legally binding documents that do get translated into all official languages are drafted in English – a fact that often goes unnoticed due to the authentication of language versions.

Therefore, we should ask ourselves whether the EU’s de facto linguistic and translation regimes are not at odds with the treaties – including the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Drawing together transdisciplinary threads from translation studies, linguistics, political science and philosophy of language, this paper places emphasis on models of linguistic justice (e.g. Grin, Van Parijs), language rights (e.g. Shohamy, Skutnabb-Kangas) and language policy (e.g. Johnson, Ricento) to propose a new linguistic modus operandi for the EU, grounded on (1) a renewed appreciation of language and linguistic diversity, (2) an increased translation output and a more transparent translation regime, and (3) de facto multilingualism through intercomprehension, translation and interpreting. It reflects and expands the findings recently published in English and translation in the European Union: Unity and multiplicity in the wake of Brexit (2021, Routledge).

Keywords: multilingualism, translation, English as a lingua franca, intercomprehension.

by monzo

The contribution of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages to the construction of language public policies

Victor Guset

Associate Professor of Public Law at the University of Rouen

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is an international treaty whose exclusive purpose is the protection and promotion of the linguistic diversity present on the European continent. The need to promote linguistic diversity is explained by the vulnerable situation of regional or minority languages. Several factors explain this vulnerability. On the one hand, some States, such as France, had adopted a policy aimed at the eradication of minority languages on their territories. On the other hand, even in the absence of such a ‘repressive’ policy (Moutouh, 1999: 223), social and economic factors may well have rendered these languages vulnerable (Kymlicka & Patten, 2007: 38).

These different factors are taken into account by the Charter. In order to protect and promote regional or minority languages, the Charter requires the State to establish a language public policy in their favour. The Charter is therefore the framework of national language policies. This influence of the Charter has two consequences. Firstly, through this policy, a State party to the Treaty must direct the linguistic behaviour of individuals in favour of the practice of regional languages. In doing so, it takes the form of a “Propulsive State” (Morand, 1999) that not only legally authorises the use of these languages but also “propels” their use. If the Charter requires such a propulsive State intervention, this intervention is necessarily flexible. It adapts to the characteristics of these languages as well as to the States’ specificities (Guset, 2017).

Secondly, the deployment and success of these public policies required by the Charter presuppose that States recognise the linguistic diversity present on their territories. The identification of languages benefiting from language public policies amounts to an indirect recognition of culturally ‘situated’ (May, 2016: 30) individuals, which is a feature of the ‘multiculturalist’ thought movement (Taylor, 2019).

Guset V. (2017), L’interprétation de la Charte européenne des langues régionales ou minoritaires, Thèse dactylographiée, Université de Bordeaux.

Kymlicka W., Patten A. (2007), « Introduction. Language Rights and Political Theory : Context, Issues and Approaches », in Kymlicka W., Patten A. (dir.) (2007), Language Rights and Political Theory, Oxford, OUP, 2007, 1-51.

May P. (2016), Philosophies du multiculturalisme, Paris, Presses de Sciences Po.

Moutouh H. (1999), « Vers un statut des langues régionales en droit français ? », in Guillorel H., Koubi G. (dir.) (1999), Langues et droit – Langues du droit, droit des langues, Bruxelles, Bruylant, 221-249.

Morand C-A. (1999), Le droit néo-moderne des politiques publiques, Paris, L.G.D.J.Taylor C. (2019), Multiculturalisme. Différence et démocratie, Paris, Flammarion.

Keywords: European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, language public policies, regional or minority languages, language rights

by monzo

Linguistic integration of adult migrants in Europe today

Halina Sierocka

According to the United Nation data, the number of international migrants reached 281 million in 2020 for the world as a whole, which means a 46% increase compared to 1990. With these new waves of migration and its diversity one may pose a question whether there is a link between the migration crisis we are facing now and the level of migrants’ integration (particularly linguistic integration) into host societies. Bearing in mind the fact that “knowledge of the ‘host’ language is seen as a barometer of migrants’ integration in a particular society” the presentation endeavours to examine whether the language policies and requirements which have been introduced over recent years, and which are predominantly rooted in political responses to the migration crisis, affect the level of social cohesion and integration of immigrants into host societies.

The presentation commences with discussion on the notion of integration in the context of migration. Language policies implemented in EU states for the integration of adult migrants are then presented together with a list of language requirements imposed on immigrants in specific member states. In addition, apart from addressing the opportunities and services provided to immigrants to facilitate the process of linguistic integration, the paper also tackles some of the incidental challenges that arise. In view of these issues, the paper later proceeds to offer an in-depth analysis of language learning, language requirements and adult migrant integration. Examples from Germany, France and the United Kingdom, the countries which are considered the top three destinations favoured by migrants, provide specific cases for the aforementioned analysis. The paper concludes with some implications and recommendations for actions which might serve to enhance language education for adult migrants thus contributing to their better linguistic integration into society despite the current migration crisis. While this will not provide a solution to the overall problems generated by the present level of mass-migration, it might well assist in mitigating some aspects of its effect.

Keywords: adult migrants, language policies, linguistic integration