Linguistic Diversity and Media Programming
For more information see individual country profiles:
Chapter 4.2.4 "Cultural diversity and inclusion policies"
Chapter 4.2.5 "Language Issues and Policies"
Chapter 5.1.9 "Language Laws"
|
|
Official |
Legally Recognised |
Legal Provisions to Promote |
|
Albania |
Albanian |
Tosk, Gheg (both dialect) |
NO |
|
Armenia |
Armenian |
Russian, Yazidi and Assyrian |
YES |
|
Austria |
German |
Croatian, Hungarian and Slovene |
YES |
|
Azerbaijan |
Azerbaijani |
All languages including those of minorities |
YES |
|
Belgium |
Flemish, French and German |
NO |
NO |
|
Bulgaria |
Bulgarian |
Turkish, Romani |
YES |
|
Canada* |
English and French |
NO |
YES |
|
Croatia |
Croatian |
Czech, German, Hungarian, Italian, Serbian, Slovenian and Ukrainian. |
YES |
|
Denmark |
Danish |
German |
YES |
|
Estonia |
Estonian |
NO |
NO |
|
Finland |
Finnish and Swedish |
Sami, Roma, Sign language |
YES |
|
France |
French |
NO |
NO |
|
Georgia |
Georgian and Abkhazian |
NO |
NO |
|
Germany |
German |
Sorbian, Danish |
YES |
|
Greece |
Greek |
NO |
NO |
|
Holy See |
Latin |
NO |
NO |
|
Hungary |
Hungarian |
Croatian, German, Romanian, Romani, Ruthenian, Polish, Serbian, Slovakian, Bulgarian, Greek, Armenian, Ukrainian and Slovenian |
YES |
|
Ireland |
Irish and English |
NO |
NO |
|
Italy |
Italian |
German, Ladin, French and Slovenian, Albanian, Catalans, Greeks, Croatians, Friulan, Occitan and Sardinian |
YES |
|
Latvia |
Latvian |
Livonian language |
YES |
|
Liechtenstein |
German |
NO |
NO |
|
Lithuania |
Lithuanian |
NO |
YES |
|
FYR of |
Macedonian |
Albanian, Turkish, Serbian, Romani, Vlach |
YES |
|
Malta |
Maltese and English |
NO |
NO |
|
Moldova |
Romanian and Russian |
Russian |
YES |
|
Monaco |
French |
NO |
NO |
|
Netherlands |
Dutch |
Friesian |
YES |
|
Norway |
Norwegian with two forms, Bokmål and Nynorsk |
Sàmi, Kvensk, Romanes and Romani |
NO |
|
Poland |
Polish |
National minorities' languages: German, Ukrainian, Armenian, Belarussian, Lithuanian, Slovak, Czech, Russian, Hebrew/Yiddish; Ethnic minorities' languages: Karaitic, Lemkos, Romani, Tatarian and one regional language: Kashubian |
NO |
|
Portugal |
Portuguese |
NO |
NO |
|
Romania |
Romanian |
19 minority languages are recognised by law |
YES |
|
Russia |
Russian for the Russian Federation, respective languages for the Republics of the Federation |
All languages including those of minorities (more than 150) |
YES |
|
San Marino |
Italian |
NO |
NO |
|
Serbia |
Serbian |
In those areas where significant numbers of ethnic minorities live, the minority languages are in official use concurrently with the Serbian language. |
YES |
|
Slovakia |
Slovak |
Hungarian, Roma, Czech, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Polish, German, Croatian, Bulgarian |
YES |
|
Slovenia |
Slovenian |
Hungarian, Italian and Romani |
NO |
|
Spain |
Castilian |
Catalan and Aragonese are recognised minority languages in Aragon. |
YES |
|
Sweden |
Swedish |
Sami (all forms), Finnish, Meänkieli (Tornedal Finnish), Romani Chib (all forms) and Yiddish |
NO*** |
|
Switzerland |
German, French, Italian, Rhaeto-romanic |
NO |
NO |
|
Ukraine |
Ukranian |
YES |
YES |
|
United Kingdom |
English |
Gaelic, Welsh, Ulster Scots, Manx, Cornish, Irish, Scots |
YES |
Source: Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe, 20th edition, 2018.
* (Canada) No laws but CRTC Regulations in effect regarding licensed non-official language services over radio and television.
** (Spain) This is according to the new regional law, which is being examined by the Constitutional Court. In the previous regional law the aranes
was recognised as a minority language in Catalonia, subject to special protection.
*** (Sweden) No laws - but rules and contracts with media and minority cultural groups/communities.