Samenvatting
Corsican and its status in education in France
On the French island of Corsica, it is estimated that roughly a quarter to a third of the population can speak the Corsican language well, while over half can understand it. The language is officially recognised by the French Constitution as belonging to the heritage of France. Over the past 25 years, several laws, decrees, regulations, and policies have gradually strengthened the institutional support for the Corsican language. Today, French-Corsican bilingual education is most prevalent in pre-school (reaching 59% of all pre-school children in Corsica) and primary school (51%), dropping to 26% in lower secondary education (French: collège), after which bilingual education is virtually non-existent. Corsican is a mandatory subject in pre-school (3 hours per week) and primary school (typically 1.5–3 hours), while this is optional for students in secondary education and beyond (59% choose Corsican in lower secondary education and 13% in higher secondary education, with instruction for 3 hours per week).
Corsican in educational research
The University of Corsica in Corte offers a complete study programme that specialises in Corsican language and culture. Research projects are typically set up as collaborations between the University of Corsica and the National Higher Institute for Teaching and Education (Institut national supérieur de l’enseignement et de l’éducation – INSPE) in Corsica, and/or the National Centre for Scientific Research (Centre national de la recherche scientifique – CNRS). Important linguistic and sociolinguistic studies have focused on the polynomic character of the Corsican language, that is, the way in which language users accept and embrace linguistic variation as a feature of Corsican, avoiding imposed standardisation. The didactical implications of this phenomenon have also been the subject of educational research.
Prospects for Corsican in France
Corsican is at risk of disappearing as a language actively and commonly used in daily life due to the very low level of transmission of the language from (grand)parents to children. In contrast, the passive knowledge of Corsican is secured for the foreseeable future thanks to education. Language policies negotiated between the French state and the Corsican public authority have so far only been partially implemented in the education system. Full implementation would strengthen the societal position of Corsican, but whether Corsican is re-appropriated as a vernacular language in social life depends not only on political decisions, but also very much on speakers’ individual choices.
On the French island of Corsica, it is estimated that roughly a quarter to a third of the population can speak the Corsican language well, while over half can understand it. The language is officially recognised by the French Constitution as belonging to the heritage of France. Over the past 25 years, several laws, decrees, regulations, and policies have gradually strengthened the institutional support for the Corsican language. Today, French-Corsican bilingual education is most prevalent in pre-school (reaching 59% of all pre-school children in Corsica) and primary school (51%), dropping to 26% in lower secondary education (French: collège), after which bilingual education is virtually non-existent. Corsican is a mandatory subject in pre-school (3 hours per week) and primary school (typically 1.5–3 hours), while this is optional for students in secondary education and beyond (59% choose Corsican in lower secondary education and 13% in higher secondary education, with instruction for 3 hours per week).
Corsican in educational research
The University of Corsica in Corte offers a complete study programme that specialises in Corsican language and culture. Research projects are typically set up as collaborations between the University of Corsica and the National Higher Institute for Teaching and Education (Institut national supérieur de l’enseignement et de l’éducation – INSPE) in Corsica, and/or the National Centre for Scientific Research (Centre national de la recherche scientifique – CNRS). Important linguistic and sociolinguistic studies have focused on the polynomic character of the Corsican language, that is, the way in which language users accept and embrace linguistic variation as a feature of Corsican, avoiding imposed standardisation. The didactical implications of this phenomenon have also been the subject of educational research.
Prospects for Corsican in France
Corsican is at risk of disappearing as a language actively and commonly used in daily life due to the very low level of transmission of the language from (grand)parents to children. In contrast, the passive knowledge of Corsican is secured for the foreseeable future thanks to education. Language policies negotiated between the French state and the Corsican public authority have so far only been partially implemented in the education system. Full implementation would strengthen the societal position of Corsican, but whether Corsican is re-appropriated as a vernacular language in social life depends not only on political decisions, but also very much on speakers’ individual choices.
| Originele taal-2 | Engels |
|---|---|
| Plaats van productie | Ljouwert/Leeuwarden |
| Uitgeverij | Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning |
| Aantal pagina's | 64 |
| Uitgave | 3rd |
| Status | Gepubliceerd - 12 feb. 2024 |
Publicatie series
| Naam | Regional Dossier series |
|---|---|
| Uitgeverij | Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning |
| ISSN van geprinte versie | 1570-1239 |