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Language and European Identity by Rudolf Kern

Identity is not a simple and constant phenomenon. It is a complex phenomenon which is constituted by stabilising and destablising elements and exists on different levels. So, identity can be determined with regard to:

  1. political level (e.g. national identity, European identity)
  2. sociological level (ethnic identity)
  3. cultural level (linguistic identity, religious identity)
  4. universal level (corresponding to values such as peace, liberty, justice)

There is a close relationship and interdependence between external and internal factors which shapes an individual or collective identity. When an individual cannot integrate these external factors with his perception of himself, the individual's identity is split. But it is a natural reaction of human individuals to seek this integration and to have the possibility of self-identification.

An excellent means of self-identification is language. Through a common language, individual identification expands into collective identification: the individual feels that he is a part of a greater community and that a part of his individual identity is at the same time a part of another individual identity. The common bond between these individuals is the same language.

Linguistic identities and national or ethnic identities do not necessarily coincide. It is estimated that in the European Union (except Portugal) more than 30 regional or minority languages are spoken. In other words, 50 our of 344 million Europeans (1 to 7) speak another language than the official or national language and are more or less bilingual individuals. Although for these people the regional or minority language is the mother tongue, they share with their other countrymen the knowledge of the official or national language, which for them is a part of their linguistic identity as well. So, for all European people, whether monolingual, bi- or multilingual, the official or national languages are an inherent element of their individual and collective identities.

In the European Union we have at the moment 12 member states and 9 theoretically equal official and working languages. But, in reality, French and English have a privileged status. In the Council of Europe with 32 member states for the time being, only English and French are officially admitted languages. The unequal treatment of the national languages has already led to negative reactions in the member states and in some cases to interventions of the respective governments in the European institutions.

As an example, I would like to mention the 1993 initiative in the Parliament Assembly of the Council of Europe to give to the German, Spanish and Italian languages the same rights that English and French already have. This initiative was rejected on financial and other, even discriminatory grounds, so that this rejection by the Assembly came across as an "unfriendly act" towards the national languages concerned. The discontent has increased, not only because cultural discrimination was expressed or privileges confirmed, but also because economic interests of the member states were touched. So, it is a fact that offers or bids are often translated after long delays in the other languages, so that non-anglophone and non-francophone economies are harmed. The linguistic and cultural issue has actually become an economic issue.

The same practice is used with the new partners from Central and Eastern Europe. The exclusion e.g. of the German language in dealing with these countries puts it at a disadvantage where it used to be strong traditionally. It is also regarded as an attempt to keep the competitors away from a new and interesting economic market.

Another example I should like to put forward concerns the use of official languages in EUROCORPS. The planned exclusion of Netherlandic led to a determined intervention by the Belgian government which declared this exclusion unacceptable. Eventually, this intervention was successful, so that Netherlandic is now on a virtually equal footing with the other languages of EUROCORPS.

The Belgian Parliament has demanded that the linguistic and cultural identity and diversity should absolutely be preserved in the European Community. This parliament with francophone and Flemish representatives has voted a resolution addressed to the government demanding that, in order to exclude all discriminations, a l l languages of the European Community or Union should be official languages in a l l European institutions.

Certainly, the fair application of the principle of equal treatment of languages in the European institutions is not simple, and the implementation will require certain modifications. But, solutions have to be found in order to eliminate and prevent discrimination. Perhaps the new principle of subsidiarity provided in the Treaty of Maastricht can help to find practical solutions.

For, only if the linguistic and cultural constituents of the individual and national identity are integrated in the developing European identity, can the Europeans fully accept Europe.

A suggestion to finish: organize a colloquium to examine this sort of question and to make propositions to improve the present situation.

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