Challenges for medium sized language communities a multilingual

Challenges for medium sized language communities: a multilingual cities perspective An overview of the situation of Dutch in Brussels Philippe Hambye Centre de recherche Valibel – Discours et Variation Institut Langage & Communication Université de Louvain Barcelona, 30 th septembre 2010

The linguistic repertoire: facts and figures

Use of languages in Brussels Figures from a 2005 survey amongst 2500 speakers (Janssens 2007, 2008) Declared knowledge of languages (good or perfect)

Use of languages in Brussels French English 96% 35% Portuguese Turkish 2% 1% Dutch 28% Lingala 1% 7% 6% 6% 6% Greek Russian Amazigh Spanish German Italian Arabic 1% 0, 5% 0, 3%

Demolinguistic balance in Brussels Language spoken at home

Demolinguistic balance in Brussels French 57% Dutch 7% French + Dutch 9% French + other 11% Other 16%

Social distribution of languages in Brussels French as a lingua franca in Brussels Weak position of Dutch in Brussels (60% of Dutchspeakers in Belgium) The demolinguistic ratio do not reflect the importance of Dutch - due to its official status - due to its major role in the workplace

Social distribution of languages in Brussels English gaining ground ?

Migration movements Increasing number of languages (1999 > 2005) 95% of newcomers learn French rather than Dutch Municipalities with a high rate of immigrants in Brussels have the highest birthrate in Belgium

Migration movements Foreigners in Brussels in 2008

Migration movements France 46006 Roumanie 8741 Maroc 39101 Royaume-Uni 8607 Italie 26695 Congo-Kinshasa 7955 Espagne 19210 Grèce 7780 Pologne 15697 Pays-Bas 6750 Turquie 10667 Japon 3129 Allemagne 8886 États-Unis 3083

Migration movements Bulgarie 2452 Algérie 2338 Suède 2336 Chine 2071 Cameroun 2049 Serbie/Mont. 1990

Integration policies Houses of Dutch Non Dutch-speakers as a priority group in primary schools Some initiatives to use/promote immigrant languages No political measures on the Francophone side

Attitudes Multilingualism as a richness, bilingualism as a necessity Negative attitudes towards the Flemish community, esp. amongst newcomers

Linguistic landscape and services

Linguistic landscape Brussels is officially bilingual, mainly French-speaking, and largely multilingual No regulation of signage in the private sector - French only - Official bilingualism - English with/without French/French-Dutch - + immigrant languages - « non languages » BOZAR (beaux-arts/schone kunsten)

Linguistic landscape Brussels is officially bilingual, mainly French-speaking, and largely multilingual No regulation of signage in the private sector - French only - Official bilingualism - English with/without French/French-Dutch - + immigrant languages - « non languages » CINEMATEK (cinémathèque/cinemateek)

Linguistic landscape Brussels is officially bilingual, mainly French-speaking, and largely multilingual No regulation of signage in the private sector - French only - Official bilingualism - English with/without French/French-Dutch - + immigrant languages - « non languages » KIOSK (kiosque/kiosk)

Linguistic landscape Brussels is officially bilingual, mainly French-speaking, and largely multilingual No regulation of signage in the private sector - French only - Official bilingualism - English with/without French/French-Dutch - + immigrant languages - « non languages » BOOTIK (boutique/boetiek)

Public services All public services in both official languages Compulsory : not a political choice Double monolingualism Ratio at the advantage of Dutch speakers

Private services Language use highly variable (// signage) Dutch more present in services provided to Flemish workers (ex. restaurants) English for international services (hotels, tourism, airport)

Brussels within Belgium: a microcosm ?

Brussels a microcosm ? Coexistence of two monolingual communities One of the few place where people experience bilingualism The only place where an bicultural identity emerges Political debate concerning this exceptional status of Brussels

Education and multilingualism 50% of Dutch speakers in Brussels learned it at school Quality of language learning still matters Reluctance on the Flemish side to promote bilingual education