Language and PoliticsLanguage and Politics

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Working VocabularyWorking Vocabulary

Official LanguageOfficial Language: one recognized by the : one recognized by the government and in which the government government and in which the government conducts business (different than a conducts business (different than a standard)standard)

Mono/bi/multi-lingual statesMono/bi/multi-lingual states: Political : Political entities with one, two, or many official entities with one, two, or many official languageslanguages

Language and government are linked Language and government are linked through history, ethnicity, and power through history, ethnicity, and power relationshipsrelationships

CanadaCanada

Two official languages: Two official languages: Bilingual Bilingual (1867)(1867) Government prints in both Government prints in both EnglishEnglish and and

FrenchFrench Private organizations encouragedPrivate organizations encouraged New Brunswick (bi) Quebec (mono)New Brunswick (bi) Quebec (mono)

QuebecQuebec has threatened has threatened secessionsecession numerous timesnumerous times

Laws in the province protect from Laws in the province protect from English incursionEnglish incursion

Francophones/AnglophonesFrancophones/Anglophones

Old Quebec: Cultural Landscape

20% Canadian residents are not native 20% Canadian residents are not native anglo/francophones (immigrants!)anglo/francophones (immigrants!)

The five most widely-spoken The five most widely-spoken non-official non-official languages are Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, languages are Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, Italian, and DutchItalian, and Dutch

21 Million speak English at home, 6 million 21 Million speak English at home, 6 million French (91% in Quebec)French (91% in Quebec)

““Canada is not a bilingual country. It is a country Canada is not a bilingual country. It is a country with two languages. And there is a big with two languages. And there is a big difference.” –Stephen Harperdifference.” –Stephen Harper

NigeriaNigeria EnglishEnglish is official but the society is is official but the society is multi lingualmulti lingual

Cultural/linguistic unityCultural/linguistic unity 11stst language for small minority (urban elite) language for small minority (urban elite) Pan-Nigerian alphabet developedPan-Nigerian alphabet developed

Over 521 cataloged languages tribal languagesOver 521 cataloged languages tribal languages Niger CongoNiger Congo Afro-AsiaticAfro-Asiatic Nilo-SaharanNilo-Saharan

Numerous internal problems/civil wars: Country Numerous internal problems/civil wars: Country divided along linguistic/religious/ethnic linesdivided along linguistic/religious/ethnic lines

SwitzerlandSwitzerland Adjacent to France, Germany, and ItalyAdjacent to France, Germany, and Italy

French (20%), Swiss German(60%), French (20%), Swiss German(60%), Italian(10%), Romansch (1%)Italian(10%), Romansch (1%)

Officially Multi-lingualOfficially Multi-lingual Bern in the middle of German region: no Bern in the middle of German region: no

effective political problems based on effective political problems based on languagelanguage

CantonsCantons 16/26 are monolingual German16/26 are monolingual German 3 are bilingual, 4 are French3 are bilingual, 4 are French 1 Italian, I bilingual Italian/German1 Italian, I bilingual Italian/German 1 trilingual 1 trilingual

DE for German FR for French IT for Italian RO for Romansh