Minority languages of Denmark

Languages of Denmark
Minority languages

Danish language is the official language in Denmark.[1] On the Faroe Islands Faroese language is the official language while both Faroese and Danish must be taught in schools. Danish should be used in court,[1] but Faroese can be used in all other official places.[2] Greenlandic language is the official language on Greenland and Greenland's Home Rule Act of 2009 does not require Danish to be taught or the use of Danish for official purposes.[1] In accordance with Denmark's official monolingualism all official documents and communications are in Danish.[3]

History

Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities entered into force in Denmark on 1 February 1998 while European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages entered into force on 1 January 2001.[4]

Languages

German

Knowledge of the German language in Denmark, 2005.

North Schleswig Germans language rights are protected by the Copenhagen-Bonn Declarations of 1955.[1] Outside the minority area German is used by members of St. Peter's parish in Copenhagen.[3] 24 German kindergartens and 18 German schools are maintained by the German School and Language Association.[3] Although the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages stipulates the right of the German minority to use their own forms of geographical names, no steps have been taken in this direction.[5]

Romani

In 2011 Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe recommended that the Danish authorities clarify the issue of the traditional presence of the Romani language in country.[6] The authorities responded that they have reviewed multiple sources and tried also to obtain information by contacting universities in Scandinavia, but did not find any documentation in support of the traditional presence of the Romani language in Denmark.[6] During the on-the-spot visit, the Committee of Experts met with a representative of the Romani People who argued that there are around 5.000 persons still living in Denmark who might be considered descendants of ten Sinti families that came from Schleswig-Holstein in the 19th century.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Facts about the Nordic Region-Language". Nordic Council. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "malrad.fo" (in Faroese). Málráðið. 24 November 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "German in Denmark". Euromosaic. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "THE GERMAN MINORITY IN DENMARK". Denmark.dk-The Official Website of Denmark. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Linguistic Minorities and Geographical Names". University of Copenhagen. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "Report of the Committee of Experts on the Charter" (PDF). Council of Europe. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
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