Language Policy in Switzerland. D. Vitali

Bundesmt für Kultur BAK

Office fédéral de la culture OFC

Ufficio federale della cultura UFC

Uffizi federal da cultura UFC

Language Policy in

Switzerland

Study visit on language learning and

teaching methods in a multilingual

country

Berne/ HdK, 02.04.2013

1





Facts and figures

Constitutional framework

Languages Act

Overview

2





The four linguistic regions in Switzerland

Swiss multilingualism

3





Resident population according to main languages (2010)


4

65.6

22.8

8.4

0.6

19.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

German French Italian Romansh Other languages





Resident population with non-national languages (2010)


5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0





The 26 Cantons

Constitutional and administrative structure

6





The languages in the Canton of Grisons (2000)

Multilingualism in the Canton of Grisons

7





Facts and figures


Languages Act

Overview

8





5th/6th century: gradual colonization by Alemanni (north),

Burgundians (east), Lombards (south)

15th century: Confederation of the thirteen cantons

1798-1803: Helvetic Republic

1803: Act of Mediation

1848: Confederation

Historical development

9





Constitution of 1848 (revised 1874):

“The three main languages of Switzerland, German, French, and

Italian, are the national languages of Switzerland” (Article 109,

respectively Article 116)

Amendment of Article 116 by referendum in 1938:

“1. German, French, Italian, and Romansh are the national languages

of Switzerland.”

“2. German, French, and Italian are the official languages of the

Confederation.”


10






11

National Exhibition 1939: "Schlassamaing cunter minchün chi'ns

attacha! – With all strength and power against all assailants“





1985: parliamentary motion Bundi « safeguard of Romansh »

Amendment of Article 116 by referendum in 1996:

“1. German, French, Italian, and Romansh are the national languages of

Switzerland.”

“2. The Confederation and the cantons shall encourage under-standing

and exchange between the language communities.”

“3. The Confederation shall support the measures taken by the cantons of

Grisons and Ticino to safeguard and promote the Romansh and Italian

languages.”

“4. German, French, and Italian are the official languages of the

Confederation. Romansh shall be an official language for Confederal

relations with Romansh speakers.”


12





Art. 4 National languages

The National Languages are German, French, Italian, and Romansh.

Art. 18 Freedom to use any language

The freedom to use any language is guaranteed.

Completely revised Constitution of 1999

13





Art. 70 Languages

1 The official languages of the Confederation shall be German,

French and Italian. Romansh shall also be an official language of

the Confederation when communicating with persons who speak

Romansh.

2 The Cantons shall decide on their official languages. In order

to preserve harmony between linguistic communities, the Cantons

shall respect the traditional territorial distribution of

languages and take account of indigenous linguistic minorities.


14





Art. 70 Languages

3 The Confederation and the Cantons shall encourage understanding

and exchange between the linguistic communities. 4 The Confederation shall support the plurilingual Cantons in the

fulfillment of their special duties. 5 The Confederation shall support measures by the Cantons of

Graubünden and Ticino to preserve and promote the Romansh and

the Italian languages.


15





Territoriality principle vs. freedom of languages?

Judgment of the Federal Court (138 I 123 of April 26, 2012)


16





European Charter for Regional or Minority

Languages

Promotion of minority languages

Framework Convention for the Protection of

National Minorities Promotion of national minorities

International legal instruments

17





Facts and figures


Languages Act

Overview

18





1996 – 2003: Preparations

1996 – 2001: Preparatory work starts, close collaboration between

Confederation and cantons, creation of a « groupe de travail

paritaire de la Confédération et des cantons pour la préparation

de la loi sur les langues » (PAS)

2001-2003: Consultation of cantons, political parties, comunes,

federal commissions, civil society

2003: Finalisation of the draft on the basis of the results of the

consultation

Genesis of the Language Act

19





2004: A decisive year

April 28: The governement rejects the draft legislation with the

followings reasons:

Confederation has already at its disposal the means to achieve the goals

Instructions received from the Parliament to make financial savings

May 7: Parliamentary initiative Levrat 04.429: « Loi fédérale sur

les langues nationales »

Novembre: The two competent commission accept the

parliamentary initiative Levrat


20





2005 – 2006: Continuation on parliamentary level

Draft legislation by the competent commissions

Transmission to the federal government for statement

Rejection by the federal government

2007: Conclusion of the procedure

June to September: Parliamentary debate

5 Octobre 2007: Adoption of the Federal Act on National

Languages and Understanding between the Language

Communities


21





Language Legislation

22

Federal Constitution

Articles 4, 18 and 70

Languages Act

Implementing Order





Languages Act and implementing order

23

LLC et OLang

Champs

d’application

Langues officielles

de la

Confédération

Compréhension et

échanges

Cantons

plurilingues Tessin et Grisons





Example: Use of the official languages

Langues officielles

de la

Confédération

Représentation

linguistique

70% D

22% F

7% It

1% Romanche

Utilisation du

romanche

comme langue

semi-officielle

Délégué au

plurilinguisme

Traduction, langues de

travail et

compétences

linguistiques





Example: Competence centre for plurilingualism

Centre de compétence

scientifique de promotion

du plurilinguisme

Centre de documentation

sur le plurilinguisme

Réseau d’institutions

scientifiques

de toutes les régions

linguistiques du pays

Recherche scientifique sur le

plurilinguisme

Plurilinguisme individuel Plurilinguisme institutionnel

et sociétal

Évaluation des compétences

linguistiques





26

Budget 2012

Support for the Canton of Grisons for

safeguarding and promoting the Romansh

and Italian languages and cultures

4.7 million CHF

(3.9 million EUR)

Support for the Canton of Ticino for safeguarding

and promoting the Italian language and culture

2.3 million CHF

(1.9 million EUR)

Support for multilingual cantons 1.5 million CHF

(1.2 million EUR)

Support for measure promoting understanding

- Centre of competence for plurilingualism

- Exchanges

- Language tuition in school

- Organisations

- News agencies

4.1 million CHF

(3.4 million EUR)

- 1.5 million CHF

- 1.1 million CHF

- 0.7 million CHF

- 0.6 million CHF

- 0.2 million CHF





The Language Act provides a legal framework for ensuring the

equality of the national languages and balanced representation

within the federal authorities. It also makes improvements in

exchanges and understanding, a key element of national

cohesion.

Main current challenges:

Representation of linguistic communities within federal

authorities and government

Teaching of national languages in school

Conclusion

27

Documents

Language Policy in Switzerland. D. Vitali