European language policies, linguistic rights and attitudes with regard to the Frisian language Dr. Alex Riemersma Strasbourg, 15 October, 2012 FCNM - Council of Europe

Introduction Frisian in the Netherlands: command, attitudes and practice Frisian language planning & Language promotion activities Links between Fryslân and Europe

Frisian in Fryslân (Netherlands) Autochthonous minority language Western Germanic language Spoken in one province (out of 12) in the Netherlands: Fryslân / Friesland Fryslân has 640,000 inhabitants 55% has Frisian as mother tongue School subject and medium of instruction

Frisian Language Command

Status of Frisian Unique minority language in homogeneous linguistic area No Language Act, but Covenant (1989) Recognised in the European Charter – part III + 48 undertakings (1996) National Minority in the FCNM (2005) Ambition: development of cultural language on equal footing with Dutch

Etnicity & Language Attitude 76% of Frisian mother speakers consider themselves firstly “Frisians” – 22% “Dutch” 54% of non-Frisian speakers consider themselves firstly “Frisians” - 20% “Dutch” / - 27% as “non-Frisian” “Frisian language and culture belongs to our common heritage”

Language Attitude 84% of all inhabitants is in favour of language maintenance (and use of its own language) in the united Europe However, nobody is mono-lingual No: either – or But: and – and > personal plurilingualism and multilingual society

Trilingual Primary Education Group 1-6 (4-10 years): 50% Frisian, 50% Dutch Group 7-8 (11-12 years): 40% Frisian, 40% Dutch, 20% English All languages as Subject & Medium “Early English” (from 4 years onwards)

Trilingual Secondary Education Subject Frisian – obligatory only in lower grades Optional: Medium of instruction Frisian, f.e. history Medium of instruction English, f.e. mathematics Optional Exam Subject

Trilingual Higher Education Subject Frisian – obligatory in teacher training for primary school (7 or 9 ECTS) Optional: Bachelor Frisian & Master of Education > teacher for secondary education Master Multilingualism (60 ECTS) from 2013

Frisian Culture to Europe 2001 European Year of Languages > Frisian poem “Bitterswiet” translated into 82 languages; permanent attention at the radio broadcasting of Omrop Fryslân 1990 Frisian Song Contest “Liet” > Liet International for European regional and minority languages as from 2002: Ljouwert – Östersund – Luleå – L‘orient – Chichon

Frisian Language Birth - Bag Language bag for new borns – Aim to strengthen the awareness for conscious (multilingual) upbringing

Parents

MELT - EU project ( ) Brochure for parents & Guide for pre-school practitioners (0-4 years) Brochure published in eight languages (and more): Frisian-Dutch Welsh-English Swedish-Finnish Breton-French Translations planned into: German, Niederdeutsch, Corsican, Bildtsk.

Telling story's with concrete materials Tomke Dewin Goals of those activities: Identification Methodology of story telling Immersion Interaction Increase vocabulary MELT Guide for pre-school practitioners Playing games

Frisian Language in Practice Strong Oral Language Element of Social Cohesion through: - Sports - Associations Cultural participation in amateur theatre, music and performances Present in media: radio & t.v. “Cool” for use at social media

Europe and Fryslân Fitting in EU policy towards: - linguistic diversity - mother tongue + 2 more languages Frisian as a good example in Europe: - multilingualism of the individual citizen and of the society Pupils feel at ease: at home, at school, in society, in Europe

Network of Schools

Cultural Capital of Europe

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