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Language and Language and IdentityIdentity

Leonie Callens – Mehdi Ben AliLeonie Callens – Mehdi Ben Ali

Lise De Weirdt – Johanna Sigridur SigurardottirLise De Weirdt – Johanna Sigridur Sigurardottir

Silke Tijtgat – Stephan Schirmacher Silke Tijtgat – Stephan Schirmacher

Alexander Deforce – Bethany RansomAlexander Deforce – Bethany Ransom

• Does the lanDoes the language we speak define us? guage we speak define us? • Is there any difference between the Is there any difference between the

language we speak and our national language we speak and our national identity? Is it possible to separate identity? Is it possible to separate language and identity?language and identity?

• Can you be Icelandic, German, Hungarian, Can you be Icelandic, German, Hungarian, Bulgarian etc. if you don’t speak the Bulgarian etc. if you don’t speak the official language?official language?

• Do all the languages in the EU have the Do all the languages in the EU have the same statues?same statues? Does speaking one language Does speaking one language in particular provide more prestige than in particular provide more prestige than speaking another?speaking another?

• What languages are the most widely What languages are the most widely spoken in the EU?spoken in the EU?

Main QuestionMain Questionss

Mother tongueMother tongue• German – German – 18%18%• French – 14%French – 14%• English – 13%English – 13%

Foreign languageForeign language• English – 38%English – 38%• French & German – 14%French & German – 14%

The most widely spoken The most widely spoken languageslanguages

• 23 official languages23 official languages• 5 semi-official languages (e.g.: Catalan in

Spain)• 7 main immigrant languages• 5 main foreign languages5 main foreign languages• 26 sign languages26 sign languages

Languages in the EULanguages in the EU

• 2 languages2 languages• CyprusCyprus

• Greek • Turkish

• Finland• Finnish• Swedish

• Malta• Maltese• English

Countries with more Countries with more than one than one official official languagelanguage

• Belgium • Dutch• French• German

• Luxembourg• Luxembourgish• French• German

3 languages3 languages

• Drinks a lot of beerDrinks a lot of beer• Eats French fries (which he/her calls Eats French fries (which he/her calls BelgianBelgian) )

everydayeveryday

• Is ashamed of his/her national football teamIs ashamed of his/her national football team• Tries to avoid taxesTries to avoid taxes• Is proud of the Royal Family• Cycles a lotCycles a lot• Eats a lot of chocolateEats a lot of chocolate• Has a good sense of humourHas a good sense of humour• Struggles with the people from the other part Struggles with the people from the other part

(Flanders Wallonia)(Flanders Wallonia)• Eats and drinks a lotEats and drinks a lot

The typical BelgianThe typical BelgianTRUE

FALSE-TRUE

FALSE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUETRUE

TRUE

TRUE

• Lives in an iglooLives in an igloo• Works hardWorks hard• Drinks far too muchDrinks far too much• Has blond hair and blue eyesHas blond hair and blue eyes• Only eats fishOnly eats fish• Is used to the coldIs used to the cold• Drives everywhereDrives everywhere• Is very richIs very rich• Leads a healthy lifeLeads a healthy life• Has a family at a young ageHas a family at a young age

The typical IcelandicThe typical Icelandic

FALSE

TRUE TRU

E TRUE

FALSE

TRUETRUE

TRUE TRU

E

FALSE

• Drives badlyDrives badly• Drinks a lot of beerDrinks a lot of beer• Is strictIs strict• Is narrow-mindedIs narrow-minded• Precision, tidinessPrecision, tidiness• Women with big breastsWomen with big breasts• SauerkrautSauerkraut• Wurst und KäseWurst und Käse• Goes to OktoberfestGoes to Oktoberfest• Has good carsHas good cars

The typical GermanThe typical GermanFALSE

TRUEFALSE

FALSE

TRUETRUE

FALSETRUE

FALSE

TRUE

• Is an introvert• Eats goulash soup• Is pessimistic• Eats fatty spicy food• Often refers to past glory• Loves independence• Has conservative values• Sprinkles paprika on every dish• Beautiful women• Complains a lot among friends

The typical HungarianThe typical HungarianFALSE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

FALSE

FALSE

FALSE

FALSE

• Has blond hair and blue eyesHas blond hair and blue eyes• Is rich because of the oil and fishing industry• IKEA• Has lots of work opportunity• Is a viking• Lives in the snowLives in the snow• Lives in FjordsLives in Fjords• Eats salmon all the timeEats salmon all the time• Is tallIs tall• Does a lot of winter sportsDoes a lot of winter sports

The typical NorwegianThe typical Norwegian

FALSE

FALSEFALSE

FALSE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

• Wears a kilt (and nothing under it!)Wears a kilt (and nothing under it!)• Has white skin and frecklesHas white skin and freckles• Drinks Scotch WhiskyDrinks Scotch Whisky• Has at least one sheep• Has red hair• Is outgoing• Plays the bagpipePlays the bagpipe• Has a great culture and heritageHas a great culture and heritage• Lot of haunted castlesLot of haunted castles• Has a difficult accent to understandHas a difficult accent to understand

The typical ScottishThe typical Scottish

TRUEFALSE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUETRUE

FALSEFALSE

FALSE

• Is shortIs short• Drinks a lot of vodkaDrinks a lot of vodka• Beautiful womenBeautiful women• Says the swear word “kurwa” a lot of timesSays the swear word “kurwa” a lot of times• Talks about football a lotTalks about football a lot• Dances PolkaDances Polka• Eats meat with potatoesEats meat with potatoes• Eats a lot of soupEats a lot of soup• Tight-fistedTight-fisted• Is outgoingIs outgoing

The typical PolishThe typical PolishFALSE

FALSE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUETRUE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

• Uses roses for everything (lotions,drinks etc.)Uses roses for everything (lotions,drinks etc.)• Drinks a lotDrinks a lot• Wears folklore costumesWears folklore costumes• Eats yogurt all the timeEats yogurt all the time• Speaks loudlySpeaks loudly• Is introvertIs introvert• Is grumpyIs grumpy• Lives in a beautiful sceneryLives in a beautiful scenery• Spends a lot of time at cafésSpends a lot of time at cafés• Uses the opposite gesture of head for the Uses the opposite gesture of head for the

expression of ‘yes’ and ‘no’expression of ‘yes’ and ‘no’

The typical BulgarianThe typical Bulgarian

TRUE

TRUE

TRUETRUE

TRUE

TRUE

FALSEFALSE

FALSE

FALSE

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attentionBedankt voor jullie aandachtBedankt voor jullie aandacht

Takk fyrir okkurTakk fyrir okkurKöszönjük a figyelmüketKöszönjük a figyelmüket

Danke für Danke für ihre Aufmerksamkeitihre Aufmerksamkeit