English in Eu
"English in EU" refers to the use and status of the English language within the European Union. It encompasses the role of English as a working language of the EU institutions, its impact on multilingualism and language policies, and its influence on communication and language learning within the EU member states. The presence of English in the EU reflects the broader global significance of the language.
6 Key excerpts on "English in Eu"
eBook - ePub- Anne Lise Kjær, Silvia Adamo(Authors)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...The right to use specific languages in EU contexts exists on paper for a range of functions, both in speech (via interpretation) and writing (official communications, approaches by the citizen), but it is constrained in many ways; for instance, it may be strategically important for an EU citizen or an MEP to write or speak in English rather than any other EU language. 3 Language rights are often neither understood nor acted on. A key reason for the EU holding back from the analysis of language policy issues until quite recently is that the issues are politically sensitive; they touch existential national nerves, as frankly conceded by the German Head of Mission at the EU: There is “no more emotional topic in the EU than the language issue”. 4 Or in the words of a senior French member of the European Parliament: “The topic can be considered explosive in Europe”. 5 At the intergovernmental level, therefore, language policy has tended to be politically untouchable, apart from the endorsement of bland proclamations in favour of multilingualism and foreign language learning. 6 The Maastricht Treaty authorized the EU to fund activities in the field of language and education, since which time many programmes have been initiated, directly in school education, higher education and research, and indirectly in countless other ways. However, the rhetoric of multilingualism as a defining European characteristic ignores the fact that for the past two centuries, most European states have aimed at making their citizens monolingual. Principles of linguistic equality and multilingual diversity have thus only fragile roots to build on in virtually all Member States (Wright 2000). The gradual expansion of the number of EU languages, from four in 1958 to 23 currently, obviously makes the management of multilingualism in EU institutions more complex...
eBook - ePub- James Nolan(Author)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- Multilingual Matters(Publisher)
...8 The Status of English in The European Union and as a World Language Viewed freely, the English language is the accretion and growth of every dialect, race and range of time, and is both the free and compacted composition of all. – Walt Whitman 160 The language of Europe is translation. –Umberto Eco 161 Brexit and Standard English: A Discussion Paper – by James Nolan, JD, AIIC, ACI 162 As a member of AIIC and an EU Auxiliary Conference Interpreter, I received an invitation to the General Assembly of EP Permanent and Temporary Staff Interpreters, but I will be unable to attend because I am not in Brussels. However, wishing to offer some input into the discussion of the recent UK vote on separation from the EU, I submit this discussion paper. The EU is reportedly urging the UK to complete withdrawal procedures expeditiously in order to minimize the disruption caused by Brexit. Meanwhile, there is speculation that English may cease to be used as an official EU language. 163 That would be a misfortune for both the EU and the world. Britain has no monopoly on the English language, which is part of the world’s cultural heritage. I cannot help reflecting that on the occasions when I have been privileged to work for the European Union, training interpreters in the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo organized by the Civilian Office, European Union Special Representative (September, 2009) and interpreting at the 67th EU/US Inter-parliamentary Meeting in Washington D.C...
eBook - ePubLinguistic Claims and Political Conflicts
Spanish Labyrinths in the European Context
- Andrea C. Bianculli, Jacint Jordana, Mónica Ferrín Pereira(Authors)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...6 European institutions Framing linguistic conflicts in Spain? From its very foundation, the EU has championed multiculturalism and diversity. Linguistic diversity within the EU is probably the best example of this commitment as 24 languages are officially recognised and can be used by citizens to communicate with any EU institution. The protection of minority languages is also among the objectives of the EU, as specified in Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union (TEU). Such benevolent policy intentions are, however, hampered by two major obstacles that limit the EU ’s linguistic policy. The first obstacle is that language issues, unless specifically related to an individual right legislated by the EU, are the exclusive competence of the member states. Consequently, it is not possible for the EU to take on the protection of languages directly. As for the second obstacle, the EU has to face the burden of having 24 official working languages, which hinders freedom of movement and market integration at the EU level. As a matter of fact, English is gradually becoming the lingua franca for communicating within the EU, to the detriment of the other languages used by member states. The EU has therefore a dual and contradictory role in relation to languages: preaching linguistic diversity on the one hand, while having to face linguistic communication needs on the other. 1 There is a trend in the European public space towards reducing the costs of EU linguistic diversity, such as becoming more competitive as a single market. As an example, the EU has introduced the notion of ‘ easily understood languages’ (Council Directive 79/112/EEC). The Member States shall, however, ensure that the sale of foodstuffs within their own territories is prohibited if the particulars provided for in Article 3 and Article 4(2) do not appear in a language easily understood by purchasers, unless other measures have been taken to ensure that the purchaser is informed...
eBook - ePub- Hartmut Behr, Yannis Stivachtis(Authors)
- 2015(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...Perception of English as a threat to the continued vitality of national languages has been analysed in Germany (Oberreuter et al. 2012), the four Scandinavian countries, and Finland (Hultgren et al. in press), and in continental Europe (Harder 2009 ; Gregersen 2014 ; Hultgren & Jensen in press; Phillipson in press). A Nordic inter-governmental Declaration on Language Policy aims at maintaining the vitality of national languages while also ensuring that international languages, mainly English, are learned. 13 The position is dynamically evolving, and unpredictable: linguistic capital accumulation may be exclusively beneficial, through the addition of English to linguistic repertoires, with national languages remaining as the unifying language in all areas of life. By contrast if the linguistic capital is accumulated by processes of dispossession, as in classic colonialism, and a national language is no longer used in key societal functions – in higher education, government business, major commercial enterprises, the media – then there is evidence of linguistic imperialism. 14 Language policy in the EU system The management of multilingualism in EU affairs is demanding. Language policy is intrinsically complex because of the interlocking of languages with national interests – with politics, commerce, the media, education, and culture. Analysis of EU language policy often suffers from a failure to distinguish between the use of languages in different institutions, between different needs and practices in writing (sometimes via translation) and in speech (via interpretation), and different principles applying in work at an EU institution as opposed to communications from the EU to citizens or member state governments. The cost of the language services is often described as excessive, but according to the EU itself ‘the cost of all language services in all EU institutions amounts to less than 1% of the annual general budget of the EU...
eBook - ePub- Nicola Galloway, Heath Rose(Authors)
- 2015(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...In English-Only Europe? (Phillipson, 2003), he points out that measures should be put in place to inhibit the spread of English, and he supports the translation and interpretation services. Outside of the day-to-day business of the EU, the dominance of English is also obvious elsewhere in Europe. English is increasingly being used for wider communication as a lingua franca. Several job websites note English proficiency as a prerequisite for application, and several transnational corporations have started to use English as an inhouse company language. The demand for English proficiency is also evident in international diplomacy, where many foreign diplomats are under pressure to learn English. English is used at all levels of education and, with the internationalization of the European student body, the role of English is increasing in the education arena. Many degrees are taught in English, and increasing proficiency levels mean the dominance of English is likely to grow. English is also taught more than any other foreign language and 90 per cent of all EU pupils now learn English as their first ‘foreign’ language (Modiano, 2006, p. 223). It is dominant in schools throughout the continent, which, as discussed in Chapter 3, has been at the expense of other European languages. European children are beginning to learn foreign languages earlier, with most beginning between the ages of six and nine. The Key Data on Teaching Languages at School in Europe 2012 report highlights that English is the most taught foreign language in nearly all European countries (see Figure 6.1)...
eBook - ePub- Diarmait Mac Giolla Chríost, Matteo Bonotti(Authors)
- 2018(Publication Date)
- Palgrave Pivot(Publisher)
...Discussions of English as a lingua franca are relevant to all three levels. Third, some authors have argued that under present conditions, the EU’s move from the current regime of official multilingualism to an oligarchic or even monolingual official language regime, where only a few languages or only one language, for example, would be employed by the EU in communications with its citizens, would both be ineffective and disenfranchise the vast majority of EU citizens (especially among lower social strata), preventing them from being able to access key information about EU legislation (e.g. Gazzola 2014, 2016). This is especially the case in view of increasing population mobility and of the emergence of new linguistic minorities across the EU (Gazzola 2016, pp. 9–10; see also Gazzola 2014, pp. 239–240), minorities whose members may not have any knowledge of the language(s) to which an oligarchic or monolingual EU language regime would grant official recognition. However, this empirical literature per se does not and cannot provide any arguments for or against the promotion of English as a lingua franca in the EU. All it can show is that, as things currently stand, knowledge of English among EU citizens is not as widespread and as good as Van Parijs and others suggest or assume. This implies that if someone is normatively committed to official multilingualism, they will welcome the fact that only an official multilingualism regime can minimize and almost eliminate linguistic disenfranchisement. If, however, one is normatively committed to promoting English as a lingua franca in the EU, because of the aforementioned advantages that, according to some authors, having a lingua franca brings, one should demand that both the EU and its member states actively promote the learning of English among their citizens, thus also reducing the level of linguistic disenfranchisement that can currently be witnessed...
