Language Politics and Practice in the European Union Cover Image

Jezična politika i praksa u Europskoj Uniji
Language Politics and Practice in the European Union

Author(s): Jim Hlavac
Subject(s): Theoretical Linguistics, South Slavic Languages, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Philology, Translation Studies
Published by: Hrvatsko filološko društvo
Keywords: Language Politics; Practice; European Union;

Summary/Abstract: The EU is considered by most to have exemplary language and interpreting/translating (I/T) policies: EU parliamentarians may use their own language when speaking in parliament and the 20 official languages of all 25 member states have equal status in regard to I/T services. This paper traces official EU and Croatian policies in regard to language choice and examines some of the translation practices employed by both the EU and Croatia. So far, bi-directional translation practices have involved a language variety that is unmistakeably Croatian and one of the EUs working languages, usually English. But interpreting practices have not always followed the same pattern and EU-employed interpreters do not always interpret into Croatian. There is some evidence to suggest that the form and name of the language in EU-Croatia contacts may not always remain uniquely Croatian. If Croatian continues to be employed, this may be a consequence not only of principles applied by EU (or Croatian) bureaucrats.

  • Issue Year: 53/2006
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 96-110
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Croatian