Frisian & the Charter

Alex RIEMERSMAGdansk, 12 September 2008

Mercator European Research Centre on

Multilingualism and Language Learning

www.mercator-research.eu

Overview

Frisian language command & position

Charter as stimulus 1-5

Frisian in Charter: education

Strengthening legal position

Frisian in the Netherlands

West-Germanic language,related to English and German

Related to North-Frisian and Sater-Frisian in Germany

Frisian language

Ik haw west - I have been

Ik ben geweest – Ich bin gewesen

Tsiis – cheese

Kaas - Käse

Tsjerke – church

Kerk – Kirche

Twa skiep – two sheep

Frisian language command

54 % Mothertongue

94 % Understanding

74 % Speaking

65 % Reading

26 % Writing

Legal position

No article in Constitution

No Frisian Language Act

Patchwork of Legal provisions

Framework Convention (2005)

European Charter RMLs (1996): 48 undertakings from part III

Charter as stimulus - 1

1992: Netherlands among the first 12 to sign the Charter

1996: Netherlands among the first 5 to ratify; 48 undertakings from part III

1998: Charter into force

1998: Consulting Body – art. 7.4: “convey needs and wishes”

Charter as stimulus - 2

Common responsibility of national and regional authorities

Periodical reports (every 3 years)

Committee of experts: on the spot visits

Recommendations of the Council of Europe to national government

Charter as stimulus - 3

Key words: “protect & promote”

Programmatic approach: - implementation - improvement- additional signature of undertakings

NGO & Public debate in European perspective

Charter as stimulus - 4

National government = Treaty partner

National government to hold obligations,also in case of devolvement / delegation of authority to regional level

National language policy

Charter as stimulus - 5

Upgrading of recognition of Lower Saxon in the Netherlands:* from part II > part III

Lower German in some “Länder” in Germany in part II (general objectives) + a few undertakings from part III

Frisian in media

Radio: 6.00 – 23.00 hrs

TV: 2 hours with re-run

1994, 1 hour ‘regional’ broadcasting ‘full programme’ by 2011

No newspapers

Frisian in education

Primary school and secondary education: obligatory subject,optional use medium of instruction

No prescribed time

Weak in teacher training

Weak position in inspection

Frisian in the European Charter

Article 8b ii – primary education“substantial part of lessons”evaluation by Comex: not fulfilled;Comex urges the Dutch government …

Article 8c iii – secondary education“integral part of curriculum”evaluation by Comex: not fulfilled;Comex urges the Dutch government …

Trilingual schooling

Grades 1-6: 50% Dutch; 50%Frisian

Grades 7-8:40% Dutch; 40% Frisian; 20% English

Developments towards: “Early English” & Trilingual secondary education

Actions towards legislation

Pressure in public debate on:

Strengthening legislation for Frisian in education: time, longitudinality & quality

Umbrella language act for Frisian

Frisian in Netherlands’ constitution

• Eskerrik asko

• Mange Takk

• Diolch

Tankewol

• Trugarez

• Grazia

• Graciis

• Dankscheen • Mercé plan

• Kiitos

• Dz'akuju so

Köszönöm

• Hvala

• Multumesc

• Thank you

Mercator Report on Minimum Standards on education in RMLs

On request of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE)

Recommendations to the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe

CEFR & RMLs

Council of Europe:Common European Framework of Reference (2001)

Instrument for the comparative description of language command

Themes of analysis

Educational goals & models

Time spent

Teaching materials

Teacher training

Inspectorate

Legal position

Challenges for teacher training

Quality & quantity

Special training for multilingual situations

More education aimed at multilingualism

Stress on proficiency in more languages

CEFR to be linked to core goals

Certificates & Diploms!

CEFR – further developments

European Language Portfolio = Documentation on individual level

Dialang: language tests

PISA

Result: common minimum standards