Scania
A Region in Europe

Prime Minister Göran Persson
The Swedish Government
103 33 Stockholm

Marieholm 28 maj 1996

Ref. Your letter Jo 1995:03 of 1994-05-24 and our letter of 1996-04-22

Thank you for your letter in which you confirm the receipt of our letter "The position of the Scanian language in Sweden."

Are native tongues (mål) dialects?
We note from your letter that the Minority Language Committee (MLC) have been commissioned to make an inventory of the minority and regional languages in Sweden according to Council of Europe's "European Charter on Regional or Minority Languages". We also note that MLC intend to take a decision if the "native tongues (mål) in Sweden" are to be regarded as dialects in the definition of the Convention. We would like to forwards our views on this.

Sweden is not a single cultural entity.
MLC is, in its letter, using the concept "Sweden" in a way, which indicates that Sweden is a single cultural entity. This is not the case, seen from a historic, cultural and linguistic point of view. Sweden is basically a political/administrative unit which entails some regions of Swedish origin and others of non-Swedish origin. (See attached chart over the geopolitical development in Sweden). The language issue must therefore be based on two territorial presumptions - one for the historically Swedish territories and one for the non-Swedish.

Regional languages are belittled.
In the MLC's letter the concepts of "native tongues" ("mål") and "dialects" are used to describe regional languages. By using the description "native tongue" ("mål"), the regional languages are belittled. The consequence may be that this downward classification could be used as an excuse for the Government not to include our regional languages in the context of the Convention. The regional languages may, as a result, be further marginalised by the "native tongue of Svealand" which has been elevated to the level of the State's Standard Language.

All languages should be treated equally
The situation for the Standard Language and the regional languages are different, but it should be a basic principle that all languages must be treated equally. It is likely that the "native tongues" of the regions had become further developed if the conquered regions had been permitted to maintain their self-determination. This was not allowed to happen which has caused a political limitation on the development of the regional languages. This must not be taken as a pretext for a continued mismanagement and destruction of these languages.

Cultural diversity - inportant factor
In the Governments directives for MLC it is stated that MLC shall make an inventory of the number of regional languages to be included under the "European Charter on Regional and Minority Languages". An important issue here is if the general intention of the Government is to limit or increase the linguistic diversity. The extent of the areas which are included in the concept of the Human Cultural Rights are increasing. From being a concept mainly concerning the relations between the State and its individual citizens, Human Rights are more and more becoming and issue for peoples and nations. This is also an important policy of the European Union. In Europe the cultural diversity, also in the language field, is becoming increasingly important.The basic ambition, both for the Government and state authorities, must be to save what can be saved. The language is very important as a tool to recreate the personal pride in ones own cultural ancestry. A very generous position from both the Government and the MLC is necessary if we are to achieve this.

Languages are regional - not to be decided centrally.
In the directives the Government is asking MLC to "decide if the 'native tongues' in Sweden are to be regarded as dialects under the Convention". This can be interpreted as centralistic egocentrism. The responsible party to decide on the status if a language must be the peoples in the regions. The lingual question is a political and democratic issue which should not be exclusively dealt with by experts and centrally nominated politicians. Peoples all over Europe are mourning the loss of regional and local languages, regardless of these are officially regarded as independent languages or dialects. Cultural diversity and local/regional identity are positive qualities despite the official status of the languages. That is why all distinct forms of languages must be protected. The distinction between languages, "native tongues" and dialects must be preceded by an open and scientific debate on criteria and definitions. Otherwise the distinction becomes meaningless.

Languages in Sweden subjected to mismanagement and destruction
No doubt cultural languages - from the languages of the Tornedal Finns and the Samis in the North to the languages of Gotland and Scania in the South - have been subjected to mismanagement and destruction. MLC must therefore also define and specify where the responsibility for this impoverishment lies. That the main responsibility lies with the Government is obvious, but this must not become a hinderance for the determination of guilt try to specify how the Government can be liberated from its deeds.

Peace Treaty of Roslkilde is violated
The Peace Treaties between Sweden and Denmark stipulates for Skåneland/Scania (Skåne, Halland and Blekinge) that the cultural uniqueness should be allowed to survive, i.e. the population should be permitted to continue to live under the old laws and traditions. This has not been the case. Despite several peace treaties - Roskilde, Köbenhavn, Lund and Fountainbleau - a massive linguistic re-nationalisation process was launched. To compensate for this a modern generous allocation of resources to re-establish the regional languages will be a good way to re-create regional balance i Sweden.

Regional languages are not for State authorities.
Of particular interest is also in what way the MLC intends to bring the language issue out to the peoples in the regions. The language question in this context is not basically an issue solely for experts and central politicians. The general public must be permitted to participate in the decision making process. In other parts of Europe the popular interest for living, diminishing and dormant languages is on the rise which demonstrate that this issue is appealing to the general public. The languages could therefore also be a tool for a wider cultural interest and as such an important factor for adult education.

Request for clarification
We ask the MLC to clarify the following questions in connection with the above.

1. Is it the opinion of the MLC that, from a human rights perspective, there are basic differences between Swedish and non-Swedish territories?
2. How does MLC define the concepts of Standard language,"native tongues" (mål) and dialects?
3. How does MLC intend to democratise its investigation in such a way as to permit a wider segment of the population to participate in the process?
4. Which other Conventions and Charters in the Human Rights field, in the opinion of the MLC, are relevant in the language issue according to the Government's directives?
5. What criteria, in MLC's opinion, are relevant when economically evaluating cost for the survival of the cultural diversity in accordance with the Government's directives: "The MLC shall account for the cost (the signing of the Convention) will entail ... and suggest ways of financing without increasing the public spending as a whole."
6. Why has the Government decided to put such an important issue, as the future of the languages in Sweden, under the Ministry of Agriculture?

Sweden's Human Rights record
We are looking forward to the result of the work of MLC with anticipation and hope that Sweden will position itself high among the states in Europe in the linguistic diversity field. Through an extensive home-language policy for immigrants over the years, Sweden has shown that it understands the importance of the interaction between the language, culture and self-esteem. The continuation of this humane policy on the native languages which exist or have existed in Sweden will surely be conceived as a good politics among a considerable segment och the population in Sweden and Europe. We would like to contribute to such an improvement on the cultural diversity in the country.

Request for documentation
Finally, we ask MLC to send to us general information on the composition of the MLC as well as on the various groups of experts attached to the MLC. We would also like to receive all of the documentation which MLC has received and is or will be using a basis for its consideration.

Very best regards
Stiftelsen Skånsk Framtid
Göran Hansson
Chairman

Appendices:

• Geopolitical map over Sweden
• The MLC letter Jo 1996:03 960524

Offical distibution list for information:
Copies trandslated to English of both the letter of the Minority Language Commission Jo 1996:3 (attached) and this letter has been forwarded to:

1. Commissioner M. Oreja, the EU Commission
2. The General Secretery Dr. Michael van Walt, Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO)
3. The General Secretery Armin Nickelsen, Föderalistische Union Europäische Volksgruppen (FUEV)
4. Skånestyrelsen, Lund
5. Generalsekreterare Dónald O Riagáin, the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages, Dublin
6. Mr Göran Thernbo, Ministry of Agriculture

© SSF

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