Abstract

SZUL, Roman. Language, Nation, and State: Past and Present. Econ. soc. territ [online]. 2009, vol.9, n.31, pp.561-579. ISSN 2448-6183.

The three elements: language, nation and state have been interrelated. Three types of interrelations can be distinguished: 1) language-nationstate, 2) nation-language and state, 3) state-nation and language. These types have been active especially in Europe since the 19^th century, and in countries and regions following European example, including present cases of nationalism and ethno-regionalism. In recent decades language policies became more tolerant towards non-national indigenous languages (not necessarily towards immigrant languages) and new nationalist or regionalist movements emerged aiming at promoting their languages. They encounter problems with elaborating and spreading of standard national languages because the population addressed is already literate in another standard language. The paper examines various types of language situation resulting from the above processes.

Keywords : language; nation; state; language policy.

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