Frisian & the Charter Alex RIEMERSMA Gdansk, 12 September 2008 Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning

Overview  Frisian language command & position  Charter as stimulus 1-5  Frisian in Charter: education  Strengthening legal position

Frisian in the Netherlands  West-Germanic language, related to English and German  Related to North-Frisian and Sater-Frisian in Germany

Frisian language  Ik haw west - I have been  Ik ben geweest – Ich bin gewesen  Tsiis – cheese  Kaas - Käse  Tsjerke – church  Kerk – Kirche  Twa skiep – two sheep

Frisian language command  54 % Mothertongue  94 % Understanding  74 % Speaking  65 % Reading  26 % Writing

Legal position  No article in Constitution  No Frisian Language Act  Patchwork of Legal provisions  Framework Convention (2005)  European Charter RMLs (1996): 48 undertakings from part III

Charter as stimulus - 1  1992: Netherlands among the first 12 to sign the Charter  1996: Netherlands among the first 5 to ratify; 48 undertakings from part III  1998: Charter into force  1998: Consulting Body – art. 7.4: “convey needs and wishes”

Charter as stimulus - 2  Common responsibility of national and regional authorities  Periodical reports (every 3 years)  Committee of experts: on the spot visits  Recommendations of the Council of Europe to national government

Charter as stimulus - 3  Key words: “protect & promote”  Programmatic approach: - implementation - improvement - additional signature of undertakings  NGO & Public debate in European perspective

Charter as stimulus - 4  National government = Treaty partner  National government to hold obligations, also in case of devolvement / delegation of authority to regional level  National language policy

Charter as stimulus - 5  Upgrading of recognition of Lower Saxon in the Netherlands: * from part II > part III  Lower German in some “Länder” in Germany in part II (general objectives) + a few undertakings from part III

Frisian in media  Radio: 6.00 – hrs  TV: 2 hours with re-run  1994, 1 hour ‘regional’ broadcasting ‘full programme’ by 2011  No newspapers

Frisian in education  Primary school and secondary education: obligatory subject, optional use medium of instruction  No prescribed time  Weak in teacher training  Weak position in inspection

Frisian in the European Charter  Article 8b ii – primary education “substantial part of lessons” evaluation by Comex: not fulfilled; Comex urges the Dutch government …  Article 8c iii – secondary education “integral part of curriculum” evaluation by Comex: not fulfilled; Comex urges the Dutch government …

Trilingual schooling  Grades 1-6: 50% Dutch; 50%Frisian  Grades 7-8: 40% Dutch; 40% Frisian; 20% English  Developments towards: “Early English” & Trilingual secondary education

Actions towards legislation  Pressure in public debate on:  Strengthening legislation for Frisian in education: time, longitudinality & quality  Umbrella language act for Frisian  Frisian in Netherlands’ constitution

Eskerrik asko Mange Takk Diolch Tankewol Trugarez Grazia Graciis Dankscheen Mercé plan Kiitos Dz'akuju so Köszönöm Hvala Multumesc Thank you

Mercator Report on Minimum Standards on education in RMLs  On request of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE)  Recommendations to the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe

CEFR & RMLs  Council of Europe: Common European Framework of Reference (2001)  Instrument for the comparative description of language command

Themes of analysis  Educational goals & models  Time spent  Teaching materials  Teacher training  Inspectorate  Legal position

Challenges for teacher training  Quality & quantity  Special training for multilingual situations  More education aimed at multilingualism  Stress on proficiency in more languages  CEFR to be linked to core goals  Certificates & Diploms!

CEFR – further developments  European Language Portfolio = Documentation on individual level  Dialang: language tests  PISA  Result: common minimum standards