Albisteak
The French Language Academy and the Basque Language Academy: two different points of view
In 2008, when the French Constitution was changed, the French Language Academy and the Basque Language Academy (Euskaltzaindia) both made declarations. It might be interesting to compare these two texts in order to highlight the ideology of these two language institutions, at least partially.
On 23rd July 2008, following the proposal by the French National Assembly endorsed by the Government, Congress brought together the two chambers (National Assembly and Senate) to vote on an amendment to article 75 of the Constitution: «Regional languages belong to French heritage». This was the first time that the Constitution mentioned regional languages.
Drawing up amendment 75.1 was preceded by lively debate among members of parliament where the French Language Academy had plenty to say. It wanted to influence members of parliament and senators and so unanimously voted in a declaration on 12th June 2008. Here are its arguments for not accepting this amendment. Firstly, it stated that the consequences of the amendment will affect national identity. There can be no doubt that regional languages belong to France's cultural and social heritage, but why should they suddenly appear in the Constitution? «The law does not describe, it binds, particularly the Constitution», said the Academy. Furthermore, seeing that, at this point, members of parliament wanted to insert this addition in the first article, therefore before the second article that mentions the French language, the Academy said that giving regional languages this type of position is «a denial of the Republic, confusing the constitutional principle of Nation with the aim of a policy». It stated that the National Assembly text would have serious consequences, particularly emphasising equal access for all to Administration and Justice. Therefore the excellent intentions of this text were not appropriate within the Constitution and the institution demanded that they should be withdrawn.
The Basque Language Academy, on the other hand, answered them in their declaration on 27th June 2008 Frantses Akademiak 2008/06/12an egindako adierazpena dela-eta (Regarding the declaration by the French Language Academy on 12/06/2008 in Euskera, LIII, 2008, 1: 137-138), saying that «the French Language Academy strongly demands that this proposal should be definitively withdrawn». The modification to the Constitution was still being discussed.
Set up by Cardinal Richelieu in 1635, this academy is one of the oldest institutions in France. «The French Language Academy plays a double role: monitoring the French language and holding patronage events», says the presentation of Academy. Its declaration on 12th June was clearly fulfilling the former roles.
However, what can we think about what it states? It is basically saying that there should be a language hierarchy in place in France. French must be placed above other languages in France, because it, and not other languages, is linked to French national identity. Behind this declaration we can perceive the old principle of the French Revolution namely "One state, one language" and consequently one identity, one nationality. Other languages in France, although accepted, are marginal and second rate. These languages must not obtain the same legal status as French, because French is the language of the Republic (second article of the Constitution). However, the argument that this amendment would question equal access for all to Administration and Justice is not as clear as the others, because other languages would not exclude French from these two public domains. It would seem that according to the Academy, there would be incompatibility between regional languages and French. There is a hierarchy between languages linked to the idea of State.
However, the Basque Language Academy, emphasising in its declaration that «Euskara us the language of the Basque people, not necessarily their only language» aims to show that it is in favour of multilingualism, writing that «Basques have been aware of the need and benefits of multilingualism for a very long time», implying that French academics were not aware of that. Rather than a natural hierarchy between languages, it seems that the Basque Language Academy, pointing out the situation of other languages «facing incomparably less favourable conditions» wishes to highlight the discrepancies in situation and status between languages. The Basque Language Academy demands «insistently that the Basque language should receive the full legal recognition that it is due in France». This demand falls into another linguistic ideology, as it leads us to believe that languages in France should have a legal status that is identical or at least balanced, which the French Language Academy does not accept. In summary, the Basque Language Academy is in favour of multilingualism and legal equality between languages.
The Basque Language Academy is a much younger institution created in 1919. «It carries out research bearing on this language, it monitors the right to the language and it establishes rules for usage», says in its presentation. Its declaration on 27th June 2008 falls into the latter target.
Jean-Baptiste Battittu Coyos
Linguist
