Bilingual Street Signs Policy in EU Member States: A Comparison

Item request has been placed! ×
Item request cannot be made. ×
loading   Processing Request
Read More Add to Saved list
  • Author(s): Raos, Višeslav (ORCID Raos, Višeslav (ORCID 0000-0003-2651-1813)
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development. 2018 39(10):895-911.
  • Publication Date:
    2018
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Research
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      17
    • Subject Terms:
      Bilingualism; Signs; Language Usage; Language Planning; Foreign Countries; Language Minorities; Comparative Analysis; Treaties; International Cooperation; Public Policy; Laws
    • Subject Terms:
      European Union; Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; United Kingdom
    • Accession Number:
      10.1080/01434632.2018.1454455
    • ISSN:
      0143-4632
    • Abstract:
      This paper explores linguistic landscapes and the enactment of public visibility and presence of non-majority linguistic groups in EU member states. Non-majority linguistic groups gain power, visibility and presence through the introduction of bilingual or multilingual signposts on roads, streets, squares, and public buildings in towns and cities where a given linguistic group represents a significant population share. The article offers a comparative analysis of language policies of EU member states regarding enactment of official bilingual or multilingual signs in public space. Twenty EU member states have signed the "European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages," while 17 members have ratified it. In addition, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, an integral party of the Lisbon Treaty, stipulates that language diversity is one of the fundamental values respected by the EU. Hence, this comparative research assesses various practices employed by member states in relation to the proclaimed values of multilingualism. Consequently, the paper depicts and compares different language policies that produce linguistic landscapes in EU member states. Finally, it tries to determine whether there is a convergence towards a common EU policy on bilingual and multilingual signs in public space.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Number of References:
      84
    • Publication Date:
      2018
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1195004