Luciano Russo
Do you think that each country should legally defend the minority languages or impose the use of one?
In many countries we see how the government doesn't show interest in defending and granting the continuation of the use of minority languages. Moreover, in some cases laws are enforced to weaken these in favour of one standard language for all the citizens. What is your opinion about this? Do you think that a state must preserve its richness in languages or is it necessary to recognize only one language in order to make a country united in nationalism and culture? Can you give a reason for your answer and illustrate the situation in your own country?
Jun 18, 2020 9:35 AM
Comments · 11
5
Here in Spain minority languages are seen as very important. Because Franco suppressed them for decades, they are now seen as forms of freedom and cultural expression. The language of individual autonomous regions are compulsory in schools as a way to continue their usage.
June 18, 2020
3
Each country has museums to show the beauty of the art of the region.
Most countries have some kind of orchestra to play music from the past and present.
Preserving smaller languages is valuable in a similar way, but it is also valuable for another reason.

Each language on this planet contains within it a specific way of looking at life.
It is coded in the structure of the language.
Each language also contains a specific way of solving various problems.
These perspectives or systems of seeing vary from language to language.
A problem that maybe difficult to solve in one cultural/language perspective may be easy to solve when viewed through the lens of a different one.

Small languages are more than just curiosities.
They are a vital part of human history and a tool for solving the challenges of today.
June 18, 2020
3
Yes. that's right Luciano. I think that the one of main reasons why the situation is looking like that is the authoritarian or imperial past of these countries. In most of the countries with similar history we've got this problem.
June 18, 2020
3
Luciano Russo:

I have found your discussion interesting. In fact, I have to be honest and say I had no knowledge Italy had minor languages. I also see how your government does it best to suppress minor languages through the constitution too. That's so sad and wrong in what a government tells its citizens.

I also see how your parents can place psychological pressure not to talk a certain language. Otherwise, my example relates to Spanish language in the United States. I would say Spanish is not suppress here but many Americans in countryside get upset when they here Spanish spoke. More interesting, English is the elected language in the United States but not official I read once.

So my example is not strong like your dialects in Italy and Spain. I have learned though to have an open mind more than most Americans. That's why I am doing my best to learn Spanish.
June 18, 2020
3
Right Luciano. Your opinion about the situation in the north is absolutely right. I've got a famili in Milan and I've never met anybody who can speak Milanese dialect (Meneghin) all my life. I'm almost 34 now.the dialects of the big cities are even in worse condition in Italy than for example standard Lombardian or standard Neapolitan which you can still easly hear in some small towns and villages.
June 18, 2020
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Luciano Russo
Language Skills
Arabic (Modern Standard), Catalan, English, German, Italian, Latin, Neapolitan (Napoletano), Spanish
Learning Language
English
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