1. Language policies versus language practices: A new language conflict?
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Rudi Janssens
Abstract
Although freedom of language use was guaranteed by the Constitution, language has always been a contested issue in Belgium. The current political model is based on the pacification of the conflicts between the two main language communities and it is the result of a quasi-continuous process of state reform that starts from official language use in public contexts as the core political cleavage. This resulted in a complex organisation of public and semi-public institutions. This pacification model reflects the political conditions before 1960. Since then, Brussels has become a city of migration. Nowadays half the population has an immigrant background. The changing composition of the population obviously has an impact on linguistic practices. Within all different domains of language use, Brussels is characterised by growing multilingualism. The question raises to what extent this situation affects the traditional structure of the pacification model that aims at regulating the contact situations between the two traditional languages. This Chapter is based on survey research. It explores the consequences of language use within a multilingual urban context. After a brief historical introduction, language use in the multilingual urban context of Brussels will be analysed within different domains. To conclude, the impact on the bilingual institutional setting will be discussed.
Abstract
Although freedom of language use was guaranteed by the Constitution, language has always been a contested issue in Belgium. The current political model is based on the pacification of the conflicts between the two main language communities and it is the result of a quasi-continuous process of state reform that starts from official language use in public contexts as the core political cleavage. This resulted in a complex organisation of public and semi-public institutions. This pacification model reflects the political conditions before 1960. Since then, Brussels has become a city of migration. Nowadays half the population has an immigrant background. The changing composition of the population obviously has an impact on linguistic practices. Within all different domains of language use, Brussels is characterised by growing multilingualism. The question raises to what extent this situation affects the traditional structure of the pacification model that aims at regulating the contact situations between the two traditional languages. This Chapter is based on survey research. It explores the consequences of language use within a multilingual urban context. After a brief historical introduction, language use in the multilingual urban context of Brussels will be analysed within different domains. To conclude, the impact on the bilingual institutional setting will be discussed.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgements VII
- Contents IX
- Introduction 1
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Part 1: Tensions between language policies and language practices
- 1. Language policies versus language practices: A new language conflict? 13
- 2. Multilingualism and immigration in the educational system: The case of Italian schools 37
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Part 2: Responses to multilingual challenges in the field of societal practices
- 3. Rescaling the problem of language difference: Some observations for policy and practice of language support in an era of globalisation 71
- 4. “Only dirty things!” Functions of mother tongue use in collaborative group work 91
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Part 3: Responses to multilingual challenges in the context of family policies and practices
- 5. Urban multilingualism and family language policy 121
- 6. Multilingual family practices: An interactional study 141
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Part 4: New ways of mapping multilingual proficiency
- 7. Sociopragmatic competence and second language acquisition: Learners of English in a study abroad context 167
- 8. The building of textual cohesion in the narrations of bilingual children: Implications for bilingualism and multilingual societies 191
- Conclusion 217
- Index 227
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgements VII
- Contents IX
- Introduction 1
-
Part 1: Tensions between language policies and language practices
- 1. Language policies versus language practices: A new language conflict? 13
- 2. Multilingualism and immigration in the educational system: The case of Italian schools 37
-
Part 2: Responses to multilingual challenges in the field of societal practices
- 3. Rescaling the problem of language difference: Some observations for policy and practice of language support in an era of globalisation 71
- 4. “Only dirty things!” Functions of mother tongue use in collaborative group work 91
-
Part 3: Responses to multilingual challenges in the context of family policies and practices
- 5. Urban multilingualism and family language policy 121
- 6. Multilingual family practices: An interactional study 141
-
Part 4: New ways of mapping multilingual proficiency
- 7. Sociopragmatic competence and second language acquisition: Learners of English in a study abroad context 167
- 8. The building of textual cohesion in the narrations of bilingual children: Implications for bilingualism and multilingual societies 191
- Conclusion 217
- Index 227
