Abstract:

Identity building among speakers of 'lesser used languages' is, in many aspects, incomparable among european minority groups, since many differing research approaches characterize the ethnolinguistic and cultural identities of minorities. In the same way, as contact linguistics by means of the Euromosaic report has revealed, there are several entirely different european language policies within the EU, and as a consequence, the identity of minority speakers has been defined in different ways depending on the nation state concepts of the EU member states. We would like to discuss some internal and external aspects of identity conflicts which can be observed among autochtonous minority members in Europe. It will be shown that these features are of prime importance for the construction of a cultural-linguistic identity within those minority groups who are trying to avoid assimilation through identity building, meanwhile they are trying to be socialized citizens, and accepted by the majority speakers. Can such identity conflicts be overcome by means of effective language planning?

Author: Peter H. Nelde