National language

National language is the name for the high - or standard language of a nation, in a broader sense a collective term for all dialects, sociolects and functional language variants in the context of historical and politically defined linguistic community. The definition of national language is problematic, however, because the definition of the scope of nation, state and language is often not uniform.

The term national language is closely linked as the modern concept with the idea of a cultural nation, which was defined as linguistically, culturally and politically unified territory. As the modern term nation was formed in the France of the 16th century the Paris Langues d' oïl dialect of the first national language in the modern sense out. National languages ​​were actively encouraged in many cases by Language or created artificially and were an important tool for the formation of nation states in the 18th and 19th centuries. The politically motivated enforcement of the sole use of national languages ​​in some countries led in the history of oppression and suppression of minority languages.

Today, many states define in their constitutions or by law one or more languages ​​as national languages ​​, most of which are then also official languages. However, this excludes the use of other official languages ​​is not enough. In addition, other languages ​​have the status of a minority language. National language and official language may, but need not be identical. Thus, for example, many African countries are French or English as the official language, however, various national languages ​​.

National and minority languages ​​and other languages ​​that have also developed historically from the language of an ethnic group, are summarized in general terms, the term ethnic languages.

Examples

Finland

In Finland, the Constitution states in Article 17 determines the Finnish and Swedish language as the national language, while the Sami received as well as Romani and sign language the status of a minority language.

Ireland

Article 8 of the Constitution of Ireland defined the Irish language as the national language and at the same time as the first official language. English is not the national language, but a second official language:

" Airteagal 8: ( 1) Ós í an Ghaeilge to teanga náisiúnta is í í to phríomhtheanga Oifigiúil. ( 2) Glactar leis on Sacs - Bhéarla mar theanga Oifigiúil hurry. "

Lebanon

Article 11 of the Constitution of Lebanon defines the Arabic language as the national language and at the same time as the official language.

Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, Luxembourgish is legally defined in 1984 as the national language, while French and German more " administrative languages ​​" are.

Namibia

In Namibia exist alongside the official language, English so-called " national languages ​​" (English National Languages), which enjoy certain rights of a minority language. These include German, Afrikaans, Khoekhoegowab, Oshikwanyama, Oshindonga, Otjiherero, Rukwangali and Silozi.

East Timor

In East Timor, the Constitution " official languages ​​", " national languages ​​" and " working languages ​​" is different. As official languages ​​Tetum and Portuguese are. They are also used in the administration of the country. 15 languages ​​of minorities enjoy special protection as a national language, while English and Bahasa Indonesia because of its international importance, or their wide distribution in the population are also listed as working languages ​​. 2012 also began to build up teaching in primary schools in the national languages ​​.

Switzerland

In the " nation of will " Switzerland has long been in the Constitution between the official and national languages ​​differed (also national languages ​​). After the introduction of Romansh as the national language in 1938, there were four national languages ​​, but only three official languages ​​( German, French and Italian). Since the constitutional revision of 1999, Romansh is also an official language for native speakers.

Singapore

In Singapore, Malay is raised as the national language nor the other (and sometimes more often spoken ) Official languages ​​English, Chinese and Tamil.