No language policy without translation policy
A comparison of Flanders and Wales
Reine Meylaerts | KU Leuven
A major challenge for authorities in the modern world is the linguistic integration of minorities. In this context, language
policies play a key role as authorities are increasingly faced with the challenge of adjusting their language policies in order to
secure the linguistic rights and thus the integration of their multilingual populations. In multilingual democracies, these
language policies must include choices about the use or non-use of translation. These choices, when they are systematic, become
policies of their own in terms of translation. Thus, translation policies arise in part as a consequence of language policies, and
there can be no language policy without an attendant translation policy. This article sheds light on the role of translation
policies as part of language policy. Specifically, it shows that translation policies can be a tool for integration and
recognition or exclusion and neglect of speakers of minority languages and therefore deserve special attention. This is done by
comparing the translation policies adopted in Flanders and Wales, both as applied to autochthonous linguistic minorities and
allochthonous linguistic minorities. Lessons can be learned from the similarities and differences of translation policies in these
two regions.
Keywords: interpreting, translation, language policy, translation policy, Flanders, Wales
Published online: 21 June 2018
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.00028.mey
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.00028.mey
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