Austrian Language Policy on the rights to mother tongue education

Abstract

Austrian Language Policy on the rights to mother tongue education The study focuses on Austria’s key language policies and legislations that have an impact on German as a state language as well as minority languages. The Federal Constitution of Austria contains the most important regulations protecting German and minority languages. The first three articles of Austria's Constitution are critical legislations for the protection of state and minority languages. The Austrian Federal Constitution requires ethnic communities to be protected and preserved. The study then goes on to explore the primary organisations and administrations responsible for the evolution of today's Austrian language policy. The system in Austria for safeguarding and promoting minority languages is typically well-developed. Austria has been an active participant in European programmes aimed at the protection of minorities. Ratification of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages is a critical step towards the European Union's integration. Austria signed and ratified the Charter in 1992 and 2001, respectively. Slovenians, Croats, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, and Roma are the six indigenous ethnic minorities recognized in Austria. Austria issued its fifth evaluation report in 2023. This report was reviewed by the researcher using critical discursive analysis. Based on the facts gathered, Austria is a country that should be emulated in terms of minority safeguarding and protection; nonetheless, changes are needed in several areas. Keywords: language policy, language policy in education, minorities, minority rights, minority rights in Austria, Austrian language policy