Language and immigration in Germany : the role of German language in recent immigration debates
All nations with significant dimensions of immigration and ethnic minorities are facing policy tensions stemming from two contradicting fundamental constitutional principles. The establishment and preservation of nationhood seems to require cultural homogeneity and associated integration of the population living on a specified territory. However, the aim of integration is challenged by the principle of recognising and safeguarding cultural identities of minorities and immigrants. One of central debates concerns language policy. This country study concerns the recent relation of language policy and immigration policy in Germany. It is based on the analysis of public discourses circling around the legislative process and the subsequent application and amendment of the foreignersâ statute of 1997 and the immigration statute of 2004 including the Green card initiative (2000) and the debate about restrictive policies after the Madrid bombing (2004). It also contains a case study of the controversies on the German-only policy on the playground of a multi-ethnic school in Wedding, a district of Berlin. Recent media coverage shows that this example, picked in 2006, has since achieved a paradigmatic quality. The
Schanze, Livia Sophie
HT Communities. Classes. Races ; JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration ; PD Germanic languages
Language and immigration in Germany : the role of German language in recent immigration debates. All nations with significant dimensions of immigration and ethnic minorities are facing policy tensions stemming from two contradicting fundamental constitutional principles. The establishment and preservation of nationhood seems to require cultural homogeneity and associated integration of the population living on a specified territory. However, the aim of integration is challenged by the principle of recognising and safeguarding cultural identities of minorities and immigrants. One of central debates concerns language policy. This country study concerns the recent relation of language policy and immigration policy in Germany. It is based on the analysis of public discourses circling around the legislative process and the subsequent application and amendment of the foreignersâ statute of 1997 and the immigration statute of 2004 including the Green card initiative (2000) and the debate about restrictive policies after the Madrid bombing (2004). It also contains a case study of the controversies on the German-only policy on the playground of a multi-ethnic school in Wedding, a district of Berlin. Recent media coverage shows that this example, picked in 2006, has since achieved a paradigmatic quality. The
language immigration germany role german_language recent immigration debate nation significant dimension immigration ethnic_minority face policy tension stem contradict fundamental constitutional principle establishment preservation nationhood seem require cultural homogeneity associate integration population_live territory however aim integration challenge principle recognise safeguard cultural_identity minority immigrant central debate_concern language_policy country study_concern recent relation language_policy immigration_policy germany base analysis public_discourse circle around legislative_process subsequent application amendment foreigner statute immigration statute include green card initiative debate restrictive policy madrid also_contain case_study controversy german only policy playground multi_ethnic school wedding district berlin recent medium coverage show example pick since achieve paradigmatic quality