Language rights are human rights and a cornerstone of our democratic society

1. Short lecture by Prof. Dr Hans-Jürgen Krumm (University of Vienna):

“Language rights and linguistic justice in society and schools”

Languages have varying degrees of value in our society: some are promoted and learnt, whilst others – particularly the languages of minorities and people from migrant backgrounds – are widely spoken but often merely tolerated, and even in schools they lead a marginal existence or are even banned altogether. Examining the relationship between language and power is the starting point for addressing the question of the state of ‘linguistic justice’ and how this can be achieved in society and schools.

2. Short presentation by Prof. Dr Andrea Daase (University of Bremen):

“Language education as a means of enabling democratic linguistic and communicative interaction in linguistically diverse communities – a task for inclusive schools”

Whilst, since the PISA studies at the turn of the millennium, language education has focused primarily on developing so-called ‘academic language’ skills, particularly among pupils from migrant families, this talk aims to demonstrate that, for a democratic society, we must base our approach on a broader understanding of language education – one that is linked to social-emotional learning, encompasses all languages, and is understood as a core task of an inclusive school. The talk will put these ideas up for discussion, drawing on a number of key concepts and examples.

Hans-Jürgen Krumm was Professor of Language Teaching Research at the University of Hamburg from 1975 to 1993, and subsequently Professor of German as a Foreign Language at the University of Vienna until 2010, where he is now Professor Emeritus. His current research focuses on language policy and language rights

Andrea Daase is Professor of German as a Second Language/German as a Foreign Language at the University of Bremen. She teaches and conducts research on German in the context of multilingualism in schools, vocational training and the workplace – often within interdisciplinary contexts. She is currently focusing primarily on the question of how to design care training in a language-conscious manner and on the link between language education and democracy education in schools.

Following the event, Café Historias invites you to continue the discussion in a cosy atmosphere.

The event is part of the series ‘Language Rights – Democracy – Human Rights’

Languages form the basis for communication and participation. However, they can also be exploited for the opposite purpose: for exclusion and as an instrument of power. This series of events aims to raise awareness that human rights and democracy are also based on the acceptance and respect of all people, with all their languages. The following questions run as a common thread through the events:

• What role does the way we deal with languages play in the development of our democracy?
• What is the state of linguistic justice, particularly in the education system, and how should language rights be structured within it?
• How can we help shape our society to be multilingual?

An event organised by the Fritz Bauer Forum