Minority Languages
Language is a key marker of identity and a central element of minority protection at both international and national levels. Although the minority right to use one's own language is generally accepted, its implementation remains challenging. While private language use is generally protected under the universal right to freedom of expression and is largely uncontested in democratic societies, the use of minority languages in public domains continues to generate tensions, with varying degrees of conflict between official language(s) and minority languages observable across Europe. The 'Justice and Governance' cluster is particularly interested in such tensions, be it as obstacles to the ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, the regulation of language in newly independent states and flexible linguistic boundaries, or with regard to the issue of bilingual topographic signs. Moreover, official language policies form the framework within which family language policies are shaped, an issue of interest to the 'Minority Issues in the Denmark-Germany Border region' cluster.
Family language policies comprise three interrelated components: language beliefs, language practices, and language management. These play a key role in the maintenance and revitalisation of minority languages: they shape children’s language development, and thereby also children’s potential to become active minority language speakers as they grow older. The research in this strand focuses primarily on North Frisian, an endangered minority language spoken in the district of Nordfriesland in Schleswig-Holstein. Some studies consider North Frisian on its own, others from a comparative perspective. The research is led by Ruth Kircher, and Pavlína Heinzová is a frequent collaborator. More information can be found here.
To a large extent, minority language situations vary because of their legal status, demographic situation, or available resources. For each of them, however, having a multifaceted, dynamic, and attractive media ecosystem is one of the key factors contributing to their broader vitality. Consequently, the minority languages and media nexus is at the forefront of the Politics and Civil Society Cluster’s research activities. Its detailed thematic foci span issues related to the impact of fast-paced technological developments on the sector, the interactions between media outlets and their target audiences, as well as the evolving nature of their content.
Script reforms extend beyond simple alphabet changes. Often, transitioning to a new script entails cultural, linguistic, and geopolitical reorientation. The Latinisation of the Kazakh language, launched in 2017, can be viewed as the country’s efforts to strengthen the Kazakh language and identity, while distancing itself from the Russian cultural influence. The research within this strand is carried out by Aziz Berdiqulov as part of his doctoral project and focuses on analysing discourses and perspectives on Latinisation in Russian and minority-language media, as well as among Russian and Uzbek minorities in Kazakhstan.
Due to its societal salience, professional sport provides a space for impactful manifestations of various identities, while also having the potential to influence correlated social perceptions and practices. This is particularly important in the context of minority languages, where some sport organisations contribute positively to showcasing them, consolidating their practical use, and delivering relevant, widely followed written and audiovisual content. These sociolinguistic microcosms have been the focus of the Politics and Civil Society Cluster’s research, encompassing both kin-state and non-kin-state settings, through comparative perspectives and examination of individual languages (for example, Catalan).
