Language Rights and the Law in the European Union

Language Rights and the Law in the European Union
Author: Eduardo D. Faingold
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 154
Release: 2019-11-15
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 3030330125

This book examines the language policies relating to linguistic rights in European Union law and in the constitutions and legal statutes of some European Union member states. In recent years, the European Union has seen an increase in claims for language recognition by minority groups representing a considerable population (such as Catalan in Spain and Welsh in the UK). Additionally, there is a developing situation surrounding the official use of English within the European Union in the aftermath of the Brexit vote. In light of these two contexts, this book focuses on the degree of legal protection afforded to linguistic groups in the European Union. It will be of interest to students and scholars of language policy, EU law, minority languages and sociolinguistics.

English-Only Europe?

English-Only Europe?
Author: Robert Phillipson
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 251
Release: 2004-04-28
Genre: Foreign Language Study
ISBN: 1134443498

English-Only Europe? explores the role of languages in the process of European integration. Languages are central to the development of an integrated Europe. The way in which the European Union deals with multilingualism has serious implications for both individual member countries and international relations. In this book, Robert Phillipson considers whether the contemporary expansion of English represents a serious threat to other European languages. After exploring the implications of current policies, Phillipson argues the case for more active language policies to safeguard a multilingual Europe. Drawing on examples of countries with explicit language policies such as Canada and South Africa, the book sets out Phillipson's vision of an inclusive language policy for Europe, and describes how it can be attained.

English and Translation in the European Union

English and Translation in the European Union
Author: Alice Leal
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2021
Genre: English language
ISBN: 9781032019758

This book explores the growing tension between multilingualism and monolingualism in the European Union in the wake of Brexit, underpinned by the interplay between the rise of English as a lingua franca and the low status of translations in EU bodies, agencies and institutions. The book draws on an interdisciplinary approach highlighting insights from such fields as sociolinguistics, translation studies, and philosophy of language in looking at data drawn from official EU documents and online resources, many of which are increasingly initially produced in English and then translated into other languages, but not published as translations. In analyzing this data further, Leal explores issues around language hierarchy and the growing difficulty in reconciling the EU's approach to promoting multilingualism while fostering monolingualism in practice through the widespread use of English as a lingua franca, as well as questions around authenticity in the translation process and the boundaries between source texts and translations. The volume also looks ahead at the current and future implications of Brexit regarding this tension while also proposing potential ways forward toward resolving it. Offering unique insights into contemporary debates in translation studies, this book will be of particular interest to students and scholars in translation studies, sociolinguistics, philosophy of language and political science

The Language(s) of Politics

The Language(s) of Politics
Author: Nils Ringe
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
Total Pages: 286
Release: 2022-01-19
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0472902733

Multilingualism is an ever-present feature in political contexts around the world, including multilingual states and international organizations. Increasingly, consequential political decisions are negotiated between politicians who do not share a common native language. Nils Ringe uses the European Union to investigate how politicians’ reliance on shared foreign languages and translation services affects politics and policy-making. Ringe's research illustrates how multilingualism is an inherent and consequential feature of EU politics—that it depoliticizes policy-making by reducing its political nature and potential for conflict. An atmosphere with both foreign language use and a reliance on translation leads to communication that is simple, utilitarian, neutralized, and involves commonly shared phrases and expressions. Policymakers tend to disregard politically charged language and they are constrained in their ability to use vague or ambiguous language to gloss over disagreements by the need for consistency across languages.

Handbook of Easy Languages in Europe

Handbook of Easy Languages in Europe
Author: Ulla Vanhatalo
Publisher: Frank & Timme GmbH
Total Pages: 660
Release: 2021-07-26
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 3732907716

The Handbook of Easy Languages in Europe describes what Easy Language is and how it is used in European countries. It demonstrates the great diversity of actors, instruments and outcomes related to Easy Language throughout Europe. All people, despite their limitations, have an equal right to information, inclusion, and social participation. This results in requirements for understandable language. The notion of Easy Language refers to modified forms of standard languages that aim to facilitate reading and language comprehension. This handbook describes the historical background, the principles and the practices of Easy Language in 21 European countries. Its topics include terminological definitions, legal status, stakeholders, target groups, guidelines, practical outcomes, education, research, and a reflection on future perspectives related to Easy Language in each country. Written in an academic yet interesting and understandable style, this Handbook of Easy Languages in Europe aims to find a wide audience.

Respecting Linguistic Diversity in the European Union

Respecting Linguistic Diversity in the European Union
Author: Xabier Arzoz
Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing
Total Pages: 281
Release: 2008-01-09
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 9027291322

After the accession of ten new member-states in 2004, the number of official EU languages increased from eleven to twenty. In 2005, the Council of the European Union decided to expand the existing legal framework for Irish and for other languages, such as Basque, Catalan and Galician, which are official in all or part of the territory of a given member-state. On 1 January 2007 Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU, increasing the number of official EU languages still further. This book addresses the challenge of respecting linguistic diversity within the EU and is intended as an introduction to the issue for those not already familiar with EU law. It also provides an analysis of the potential of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to enhance respect for linguistic diversity. Each chapter has been written by a recognised expert in the field. The appendices bring together the basic legal norms relating to linguistic diversity within EU institutions.

English and Translation in the European Union

English and Translation in the European Union
Author: Alice Leal
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 175
Release: 2021-06-20
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1000399583

This book explores the growing tension between multilingualism and monolingualism in the European Union in the wake of Brexit, underpinned by the interplay between the rise of English as a lingua franca and the effacement of translations in EU institutions, bodies and agencies. English and Translation in the European Union draws on an interdisciplinary approach, highlighting insights from applied linguistics and sociolinguistics, translation studies, philosophy of language and political theory, while also looking at official documents and online resources, most of which are increasingly produced in English and not translated at all – and the ones which are translated into other languages are not labelled as translations. In analysing this data, Alice Leal explores issues around language hierarchy and the growing difficulty in reconciling the EU’s approach to promoting multilingualism while fostering monolingualism in practice through the diffusion of English as a lingua franca, as well as questions around authenticity in the translation process and the boundaries between source and target texts. The volume also looks ahead to the implications of Brexit for this tension, while proposing potential ways forward, encapsulated in the language turn, the translation turn and the transcultural turn for the EU. Offering unique insights into contemporary debates in the humanities, this book will be of interest to scholars in translation studies, applied linguistics and sociolinguistics, philosophy and political theory.

Language Policy and Linguistic Justice

Language Policy and Linguistic Justice
Author: Michele Gazzola
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 535
Release: 2018-09-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3319752634

Language policies are increasingly acknowledged as being a necessary component of many decisions taken in the areas of the labor market, education, minority languages, mobility, and social inclusion of migrants. They can affect the democratic control of political organizations, and they can either entrench or reduce inequalities. These are the central topics of this book. Economists, philosophers, political scientists, and sociolinguists discuss – from an interdisciplinary perspective – the distributive socio-economic effects of language policies, their impact on justice and inequality at the national or international level, as well as the connection between language choices and an inclusive access to public services. The range of social and economic issues raised by linguistic diversity in contemporary societies is large, and this requires new approaches to tackle them. This book provides new input to design better, more efficient, and fair language policies in order to manage linguistic diversity in different areas. Topics covered include: theoretical models of linguistic justice and linguistic disadvantage; the assessment of the socio-economic consequences of language policies; the evaluation of the costs, benefits, and degree of inclusion of language planning measures; the politics of migrants’ linguistic integration; as well as multilingualism and economic activities. These topics are discussed in different contexts, including the areas inhabited by linguistic minorities, cities receiving migrants, and supranational organizations.

The Status of the Translation Profession in the European Union

The Status of the Translation Profession in the European Union
Author: Anthony Pym
Publisher: Anthem Press
Total Pages: 190
Release: 2014-12-01
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1783083476

Based on thorough and extensive research, this book examines in detail traditional status signals in the translation profession. It provides case studies of eight European and non-European countries, with further chapters on sociological and economic modelling, and goes on to identify a number of policy options and make recommendations on rectifying problem areas.