Del bilingüisme a la cooficialitat: reflexió a l'entorn de l'article 53, apartat 2, de l'Estatut de la col·lectivitat territorial de Còrsega

Resum

In the course of a lengthy disquisition, the author conveys to us that Article 53, paragraph 2, of the new Statute of Corsica allows the Corsican Assembly to carry out a new cultural and language policy. French law is very timid when it comes to recognizing the existence on French territory of «foreign» speech groups. The language demands of many Corsicans are still unassimilated by French law. However, it is not a question here  of making a political statement, of saying yes or no to the Corsican nation and its language, but rather, of analysing the language perspectives that are available to a minority language. The problems the Corsican language faces today stem from Gallicization, from French supremacy. Some associations and even some political parties have drawn up a motion asking the government to implement mandatory instruction in the Corsican language. However, when talking in these terms of the obligatory nature of instruction, the first problem already arises: bilingualism, or coofficial status? Making French and Corsican official is contrary to national unity, and furthermore, this would entail unacceptable discrimination against those residents who do not speak Corsican. Therefore, the relationship between the French language and regional languages should be one of subordination or «complementariness» never one of official status. French law speaks of freedom and equality. Consequently, the systematic teaching of the Corsican language in school would be contrary to the principle of equality, because it would create a situation different from that in other territories, and if this language is not taught, the Corsicans are not free to learn it. Article 53, paragraph 2 of the 1991 statute sets forth the conditions for the use of Corsican in schools, as long as the State is in agreement. It is time to rid ourselves of the bilingualism complex: most certainly, this is the attitude that must be adopted if the cultural balance that Corsica needs is to be strengthened.