home About us Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) Compendium of Language Management in Canada (CLMC) International Perspective Compendium of Language Management in Canada (CLMC) About Us Foundations About Languages Regimes Federalism Central Elements of Language Policy in Canada Conclusion References Linguistic History About First Nations Arrival of the Europeans British North Amercia American Revolution Difficult beginnings of linguistic duality Linguistic Policies of Non-Intervention Advent of Language Rights and Laws Historical documents References Legal Framework About Official languages & linguistic equality Language of Laws and Parliamentary Debates Language of the Courts Language of Services to the Public Language of Instruction Language Rights About Publications Resources Demolinguistic Statistics About Language Databases Census Demolinguistic Questions Official-Language Bilingualism and Multilingualism Language Practices Second Language Education and Literacy Official-language minorities Ethnocultural characteristics Reference documentation Governance About this section Overview of the Governance Structures (PDF) Federal government Ministerial Conference Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Yukon Northwest Territories Nunavut International Perspective About this section Summary Table of the Countries Examined The nature of Canadian bilingualism Belgium Switzerland Finland Ireland India Spain Cameroon Singapore Mauritius Kosovo by C. Quell Summary table of the countries examined Belgium arrow_drop_down Belgium Designation in the country'sofficial languagesBelgique - België - BelgienArea30,527km² (Canada: 9,976,140km²)Population 201411.4 million (est. 2017) / Canada: 32.82 million (est. 2016)Dutch: 55.7%French: 37.1%German: 0.3%Other languages: 12.2%Official LanguagesDutch, French, and GermanCapital CityBrusselsMain Language Laws-Constitution(1994)-Law Governing the Use of Languages in Administrative Matters, coordinated on July 18, 1966. Switzerland arrow_drop_down Switzerland Designation in the country'sofficial languagesSuisse - Schweiz - Svizzera - SvizraArea41,285km² (Canada: 9,976,140km²)Population (2004)8.4 million (est. 2017) / Canada: 36.2 million (est. 2016)German: 57.3%French: 20.7%Italian: 3.5%Rumansh: 0.4%Other languages: 18.1%Official languagesGerman, French, Italian, and Rumansh (regional)Capital CityBernLanguage Laws- Constitution (2000)- Federal Act on National Languages and Harmony Among Linguistic Communities (draft bill, March 2001)- Federal Act Respecting Financial Assistance for the Safeguard and Promotion of the Rumansh and Italian languages and Cultures (October 6, 1995) Finland arrow_drop_down Finland Designation in the country'sofficial languagesSuomi - FinlandArea337,032km² (Canada: 9,976,140km²)Population (2017)5.5 million (est. 2017) / Canada: 36.2 million (est. 2016)Finnish: 89.9%Swedish: 5.4%Other languages: 4.7%Official languagesFinnish and SwedishCapital CityHelsinkiLanguage Laws- Constitution (2000)- Language Act (2004) Ireland arrow_drop_down Ireland Designation in the country'sofficial languagesHéireann - IrelandArea337,032km² (Canada: 9,976,140km²)Population (2004)4.7 million (est. 2016) / Canada: 36.2million (est. 2016)English: 83/6%Irish: 3.5%Other languages: 12.8%Official languagesEnglish and IrishCapital CityDublinLanguage Laws- Constitution (2000)- Official Languages Act (2003) India arrow_drop_down India Designation in the country'sofficial languagesIndia - Bharât / भारतArea3.2 million km² (Canada: 9,976,140km²)Population (2004)1.342 billion (est. 2017) / Canada: 36.2 million (est. 2016)English: 2 %Hindi: 44.9 %Other languages: 53.1 %Official languagesEnglish and HindiCapital CityNew DelhiLanguage Laws- Constitution (1950)- Official Languages Act (1963-1967)- Official Languages Rules (1976-1987) Spain arrow_drop_down Spain Designation in the country'sofficial languagesEspaña (off. Castillan); Espanya (Catalan), España (Galician), Espainia (Basque)Area504,748 sq km (Canada: 9,976,140 sq km)Population (2004)42.8 millions (est. 2004) / Canada: 31.8 millions (est. 2004)Castillan: 72.8%Catalan: 10%Galician: 8.2%Basque: 1.5%Other languages: 7.5%Official LanguagesCastillan (central)Catalan, Basque, Galician (regional)Capital CityMadridLanguage Laws- Constitution (2000)- Laws of linguistic significance Cameroon arrow_drop_down Cameroon Name in the official languages of the countryCameroun - CameroonArea475 442 km² (Canada : 9 976 140 km²)Population (2017)25,2 millions (est. 2018) / Canada : 36,2 millions (est. 2016)Français : 78 %Anglais : 22 %Autres langues : plus de 260 langues africainesOfficial languages of the countryFrench and EnglishCapitalYaoundéLanguage laws- Constitution (1996)- Circular No. 001/CAB/PM of 16 August relative to the practice of bilingualism (1991);- Decree No. 2017/013 of 23 January 2017 to lay down the establishment, organization and functioning of the National Commission on the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism Singapore arrow_drop_down Singapore Name in the official languagesof the countryRepublic of Singapore (in English)Republik Singapura (in Malay)Cingkappūrā Kudiyaracu (in Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர்)Xīnjīapō Gònghégúo (in Chinese: 新加坡共和国)Area693 km² (Canada : 9 976 140 km²)Population (2018)5.7 million (est. 2018) / Canada: 36.2 million (est. 2016)Mandarin Chinese: 24.8 %Malay: 6.7 %Tamil: 2.0 %English: 3.7 %Other languages: 3.72% (more than 40 other languages)Official languagesEnglish, Mandarin, Malay and TamilCapital CitySingaporeLanguage Laws- Constitution(1995)- Official Languages Act(2004)- Official Languages Rules(1957) Mauritius arrow_drop_down Mauritius NamesRepublic of Mauritius (English)République de Maurice (French)Repiblik Moris (Mauritian)Surface area2040 km² (Canada: 9,976,140 km²)Population (2018)2.1 million (est. 2018) / Canada: 36.2 million (est. 2016)Mauritian Creole: 86.5 %Bhojpuri: 5.3 %French: 4.1 %Hindi: 2.8 %English: 0.10 %Other languages 1.2 %Official languagesEnglish (de facto)French(de facto)CapitalPort Louis (French: Port-Louis)Laws relating to language- Constitution (1968)- Courts Act (1945, in force)- Education Act(1957)- Local Government Act(2011)
