IstÂván LanÂstyÂák: The EuroÂpeÂan Union’s LanÂguÂaÂge PoliÂcy and LanÂguÂaÂges SpoÂken in SloÂvaÂkia
If we would want to define dramatically, we should begin our sumÂmaÂry of draÂwing a lesÂson from the point of view of the whole EU with the staÂteÂment that in the EU besiÂde EngÂlish and French no lanÂguÂaÂge can feel safe in a long term. Although, in a shorÂter term, those lanÂguÂaÂges that are offiÂciÂal or regiÂoÂnalÂly offiÂciÂal lanÂguÂaÂges of the memÂber states, are not in direct danger. Although, if we do not want them to be in danÂgeÂrous situation, we have to (should) act now.
From the point of view of the EuroÂpeÂan Union the maÂin quesÂtiÂon is how a multi-lingual – simiÂlar to a state union, but basiÂcalÂly new type – strucÂtuÂre can funÂctiÂon effecÂtiÂveÂly conÂsiÂdeÂring equality/democracy on the one hand and reasonability/economy on the other hand. From the point of view of the lanÂguÂaÂges spoÂken in the Union, the quesÂtiÂon arisÂes moÂre sharpÂly and it is even moÂre difÂfiÂcult to answer it: how can the lagÂging behind of minoÂriÂty lanÂguÂaÂges be stopped, how can their possibÂle strengthening, staÂbiÂliÂsaÂtiÂon be achiÂeÂved in such a way that it would enabÂle sucÂcess of the speakers, since the disadÂvanÂtaÂges of lanÂguÂaÂges spoÂken by small-number comÂmuÂniÂtiÂes in cerÂtaÂin conÂdiÂtiÂons can put into disadÂvanÂtaÂgeÂous situÂaÂtiÂon motÂher lanÂguÂaÂge speÂaÂkers towards other motÂher lanÂguÂaÂge speakers.
ConÂsiÂdeÂring SloÂvaÂkia’s languages, we can sumÂmaÂriÂze the following: Although Hungarian, Czech, and Polish lanÂguÂaÂges have becoÂme offiÂciÂal lanÂguÂaÂges of the EU, (while GerÂman was from the beginning), in SloÂvaÂkia these lanÂguÂaÂges were and remaÂiÂned minoÂriÂty languages. It is quesÂtiÂoÂnabÂle that if the offiÂciÂal lanÂguÂaÂge staÂtus would be able, even if in a small extent – comÂpenÂsaÂte the facÂtors aiming lanÂguÂaÂge exchange. It does not seem to be probable, since the rights arisÂing from the offiÂciÂal lanÂguÂaÂge staÂtus can be appliÂcaÂble only on EU level, and the most citiÂzens will not proÂbabÂly get into verÂbal conÂtact with EU offices, theÂreÂfoÂre this facÂtor does not influÂenÂce their lives. BesiÂde the offiÂciÂal lanÂguÂaÂge staÂtus opeÂning of the borÂders – at least for the minoÂriÂty living by it – is a much moÂre imporÂtant fact.
ConÂsiÂdeÂring other minoÂriÂty lanÂguÂaÂges spoÂken in Slovakia, they canÂnot antiÂciÂpaÂte conÂsiÂdeÂrabÂle improÂveÂment of their chanÂces to surÂviÂve in the future. At the same time, at the entry to the EU proÂfesÂsiÂoÂnals repreÂsenÂting peopÂle living in the enteÂring counÂtriÂes and speÂaÂking minoÂriÂty languages, can have now opporÂtuÂniÂtiÂes creÂaÂted by the proÂcess of the entry, for examÂple parÂtiÂciÂpaÂtiÂon in lanÂguÂaÂge progÂraÂms or in the work of such instiÂtuÂtiÂons like the EuroÂpeÂan OffiÂce of Less Used Languages. They themÂselÂves canÂnot bring break-through in the situÂaÂtiÂon of less-used languages, but togetÂher with other facÂtors they can help these lanÂguÂaÂges to be less hopeÂless in the future.