In:Desired Language: Languages as objects of national ideology
Edited by Francesc Feliu
[IVITRA Research in Linguistics and Literature 35] 2023
► pp. 117–136
Multicultural citizenship, European integration and language rights
Published online: 4 January 2023
https://doi.org/10.1075/ivitra.35.06sto
https://doi.org/10.1075/ivitra.35.06sto
Abstract
The contribution concerns the relationship between the European integration process and the protection of minorities and language rights. It focuses on several official documents produced by the European institutions with political or legal value. In particular it refers to the Council of Europe and the European Communities / European Union. Those institutions are different and in a different way are at the same time an outcome and an instrument of the European integration. Into this framework the symbolic and substantial relevance given to minorities, linguistics rights and cultural diversity has been changing over the course of time, according to the different political and institutional situations of Europe. The different approaches to minorities, minoritized languages and language rights are like a mirror for the European integration, showing both its strenght and its difficulties as well as its contradictions.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.The theoretical framework
- 2.1Minority and minorities
- 2.2Minority languages, minority protection and language rights
- 3.Minority protection and European integration
- 3.1The first two phases: 1945–1960 and 1961–1979
- 3.2The third phase (1979–2004): Minorities, languages and protection as a cultural and political resource for Europe
- A. European Communities and European Union, actions and contradictions
- B. The Council of Europe and its conventions
- 3.3The forth phase (from 2004 to nowadays): New hopes, new contradictions
- 4.Between the idea of multicultural citizenship and the citizenship of European Union
Notes References
References (37)
Bonamore, Daniele. 2004. Lingue minoritarie, lingue nazionali, lingue ufficiali nella Legge 482/1999. Milan: FrancoAngeli, 2004.
Canciani, Domenico and Sergio De La Pierre. 1993. Le ragioni di Babele. Le etnie tra vecchi nazionalismi e nuove identità. Milan: Franco Angeli.
Capotorti, Francesco. 1979. Study on Persons Belonging to Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. Geneva: United Nations [Available on line: [URL] Accessed 26 February 2021]
Caprioli, Carla. 2002. “Multilinguismo e diversità linguistica nell’Unione europea: l’esperienza del sito web ‘Multilinguismo? Sì, grazie’ della Rappresentanza della Commissione europea di Milano.” Ianua. Revista Philologica Romanica 3: 156–165. (Atti del 1° Simposio iberico-italiano Le minoranze linguistiche dell’Europa del sud. Politiche e strumenti di protezione e diffusione, Torino 25–26 maggio 2002) [Available on line: [URL]. Accessed 26 February 2021]
De Varennes, Fernand. 2008. “Language protection and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages: quo vadis?” In The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages: Legal Challenges and Opportunities (Regional or Minority Languages, n. 5). Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing.
. 2009. “Language Rights Standards in Europe: The Impact of the Council of Europe’s Human Rights and Treaty Obligations.” In Rights, Promotion and Integration Issues for Minority Languages in Europe, ed. by Susanna Pertot, Tom M. S. Priestly and Colin H. Williams, 35–52. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
De Witte, Bruno. 1992. “Le principe d’egalité et la pluralité linguistique.” In Les minorités en Europe. Droits linguistiques et droits de l’homme, ed. by Henri Giordan, 55–62. Paris: Kimé.
Deschênes, Jules. 1985. Proposal concerning a definition of the term “minority”. Geneva: United Nations. [Available on line: [URL] Accessed 26 February 2021]
Frau, Giovanni. 2006. “Normalizzazione, pianificazione e tutela istituzionalizzata della lingua friulana.” In Romanische Sprachgeschichte – Histoire linguistique de la Romania, ed. by German Ernst, Martin-Dietrich Gleßgen, Christian Schmitt and Wolfgang Schweickard, vol. 2, 1445–1449. Berlin / New York: De Gruyter.
Jenniges, Ricarda. 1993. Mini-Guide to the Lesser Used Languages of the EC. Brussels: European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages.
Kymlicka, Will. 1999. La cittadinanza multiculturale. Bologna: Il Mulino. [Multicultural Citizenship: A Liberal Theory of Minority Rights, 1995]
Marko, Joseph, Sergio Ortino e Francesco Palermo (eds). 2001. L’ordinamento speciale della Provincia autonoma di Bolzano. Padua: CEDAM.
Montanari, Laura. 2015. “Le Carte europee dei diritti: i rapporti tra i sistemi di garanzia.” In EuropeiUniTe Working Papers 1, 5–35. Teramo: Università degli Studi di Teramo.
Ó Riagáin, Dónall. 1999. “The Importance of Linguistic Rights for Speakers of Lesser Used Languages.” International Journal on Minority and Group Rights 6 (3): 289–298. (Special Issue on the Linguistic Rights of National Minorities).
Palermo, Francesco and Jens Woelk (eds). 2011. Diritto costituzionale comparato dei gruppi e delle minoranze (2 ed.). Torino: Giappichelli.
Penasa, Simone. 2014. “La Carta europea e la Convenzione quadro: verso il consolidamento di un sistema integrato di protezione del patrimonio linguistico europeo.” In Lingue, diritti, cittadinanza – Languages, rights, citizenship. Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italia, Europa, Mediterraneo, ed. by Claudio Cressati and Marco Stolfo, 47–60. Udine: Forum.
Pentassuglia, Gaetano. 2002. Minorities in International Law. Strasbourg / Flensburg: Council of Europe and European Center for Minority Issues (ECMI).
Poggeschi, Giovanni. 2013. Language Rights and Duties in the Evolution of Public Law. Baden Baden: Nomos.
Pup, Carli. 2014. “L’Italia, la tutela delle minoranze e la Carta europea.” In Lingue, diritti, cittadinanza – Languages, rights, citizenship. Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italia, Europa, Mediterraneo, ed. by Claudio Cressati and Marco Stolfo, 133–137. Udine: Forum.
Rouland, Norbert. 1991. Aux confines du droit: anthropologie juridique de la modernité. Paris: Odile Jacob.
Rousseau, Dominique. 1992. “La filosophie du droit.” In Les minorités en Europe. Droits linguistiques et droits de l’homme, ed. by Henri Giordan, 79–85.
Salvi, Sergio. 1975. Le lingue tagliate. Storia delle minoranze linguistiche in Italia, Milan: Rizzoli.
Sapir, Edward. 1969. Il linguaggio. Introduzione alla linguistica. Turin: Einaudi. [Language. An Introduction to the Study of Speech, 1921]
Stolfo, Marco. 2003. “La tutela delle lingue minoritarie tra pregiudizi teorici e buoni motivi.” Ianua. Revista Philologica Romanica 4: 57–71 [Available on line: [URL] Accessed 26 February 2021]
. 2005. Lingue minoritarie e unità europea. La “Carta di Strasburgo” del 1981. Milan: Franco Angeli.
. 2008a. “Unity in Diversity. The Role of the EP in Promoting Minority Languages in Europe.” In Rights, Promotion and Integration Issues for Minority Languages in Europe, ed. by Susanna Pertot, Tom M. S. Priestly and Colin H. Williams, 32–43. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
. 2008b. “L’identità europea: un’identità consapevolmente dinamica e plurale.” In Un’Università che cambia in un mondo che cambia. Nuove prospettive di ricerca negli studi europei, ed. by Lara Piccardo, 97–109. Milan: Ediplan editrice.
. 2009. Si ses europeu, faedda in sardu. Deghe annos de Lege 482/1999. Sardigna, Itàlia, Europa = Dieci anni di Legge 482/1999. Sardegna, Italia, Europa, Ghilarza: Iskra.
. 2017. “Judiçs e judizis: Minority SafePack e Catalogne.” La Patrie del Friûl, 15/03/2017. [Available on line: [URL] Accessed 26 February 2021]
Stolfo, Marco and Claudio Cressati. 2016. Cercare il Friuli e trovare l’Europa. La minoranza linguistica friulana e la sua tutela: rivendicazioni, normativa, politiche e problemi, Udine: Forum.
Toggenburg, Gabriel N. 2008. The EU’s Evolving Policies vis-à-vis Minorities. A Play in Four Parts and an Open End. Bolzano: EURAC.
Toniatti, Roberto. 2000. “Los derechos del pluralismo cultural en la nueva Europa.” Revista vasca de administración pública 58(2): 17–48.
