Switzerland Language Policy Analysis

Introduction Understanding language policy and planning involves exploration and understanding of the evolution of language rights and the integration of basic human rights. In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which arose directly after World War II based on the need for global rights of all human beings. The articles of this declaration include individual rights regarding: discrimination based on language, fair trials, freedom of expression and the right to education in the native language. These rights extend into the private and public domains of life and include minority rights to use their own language whether or not the language is official or nationally recognized. Collective

The Swiss government has taken great strides to preserve and respect minority languages, and promote bilingual education in effort to capitalize on their multiculturalism. To understand Switzerland’s language policies, one must understand the basic tenets of their federalist government and how it is structured. Switzerland is a country which prides itself on its multiculturalism and took steps to avoid becoming a homogenous society by enacting policies that encouraged political power sharing between the groups and peaceful conflict resolution through negotiation. Each of the 26 cantons has explicit rights of self-governance in all areas which are not specifically stated in the Constitution. This means the federal government plays a minor role in decision-making, leaving each canton to govern itself regarding language policies and planning. The three principles which form the foundation of their government are: territoriality, language freedom and subsidiarity. According to the territoriality principal, each canton has the right to remain homogenous within certain territorial borders and protect its mother tongue through language freedom. For example, minority languages, such as Romanshe, have been respected and vitalized despite being spoken by only .5% of the

Each of the four regions has a right to education in the official language, but second language policies are more territorial. This has become an issue for the French and Italians who complain as the de facto second language of choice for Swiss Germans is slowly becoming English. However, Switzerland’s second language education policy states that each citizen has the right to learn in their native language with the addition of a second language of