The petition on languages in Luxembourg on 16 January 2017: Joseph Schloesser argued in favour of keeping French and German as the main administrative languages Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies

The petition on languages in Luxembourg on 16 January 2017: Joseph Schloesser argued in favour of keeping French and German as the main administrative languages Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies

Following the emotional debates in parliament on the two petitions on the language situation in Luxembourg In January, the government has presented a long term “strategy on the promotion of the Luxembourgish language”.

Education minister Claude Meisch and secretary of state for culture Guy Arendt said that this strengthening of the language was compatible with the multilingualism of the country.

The main point is to introduce the obligation for private schools that receive government funding to offer Luxembourgish language courses. Furthermore, the offer of optional Luxembourgish courses is to be extended in public schools, and an optional “Luxembourgish as a foreign language” course in primary schools will be created.

The use of the language is also to be promoted in culture and at work. Arendt proposed introducing a “national day of Luxembourgish”. The “language training leave” (congé linguistique) is to be adapted to meet the needs of employees. It is also to be tailored more specifically to people working in the health sector.

A Centre for Luxembourgish is to be created, to standardise the language, especially in terms of grammar. The government also foresees a commissioner for Luxembourgish.

Finally, the language is to be anchored in the constitution, along with the other two languages, French and German.

You can find the original article by Paperjam, in French, here.