What is a regional language?
Q: What is a regional language?
A: A regional language is a language spoken in a specific area that is part of a larger nation state.
Q: What does the term "regional or minority languages" mean according to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages?
A: The term "regional or minority languages" refers to languages that are traditionally used within a given territory of a state by nationals of that state who form a group numerically smaller than the rest of the state's population, and different from the official language(s) of that state.
Q: How is a regional language different from the official language(s) of a country?
A: A regional language is different from the official language(s) of a country in terms of political status.
Q: Are regional languages always recognized and protected by the government or state?
A: Regional languages are sometimes recognized and protected by the regional government or the state.
Q: Can regional languages be studied in France?
A: Yes, regional languages in France can be studied, but they cannot be used in the government or any public service, where only French is official.
Q: Which countries recognize and give a status to regional languages?
A: Many states across the world recognize regional languages and give them a status, such as Wallonia, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland.
Q: What is the criterion for a language to be considered a regional or minority language?
A: The criterion for a language to be considered a regional or minority language is that it is traditionally used within a given territory of a state by nationals of that state who form a group numerically smaller than the rest of the state's population and different from the official language(s) of that state.
