Discrimination against minority languages

Repression of ethnic languages
Active prejudice towards regional speech
Prejudicial treatment of provincial dialects

Nature

Disuse of a minority language in teaching, when this is the children's mother tongue, is discriminating against the minority language population within a nation in that it denies the cultural identity of this minority population.

Background

Discrimination against minority languages gained international attention in the 20th century as nation-states promoted linguistic homogeneity, often marginalizing indigenous and regional tongues. The problem’s significance was highlighted by UNESCO’s 1953 report on vernacular languages and later by the 1992 UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, which underscored the global scale and cultural consequences of linguistic exclusion (UNESCO, UN OHCHR).

Incidence

There are some 5000 minority languages worldwide all of which are in danger of extinction. Until recently, France, whose 8 distinct languages and more than a dozen dialects made it the most linguistically diverse nation of western Europe, was ironically one of the most disapproving of regional speech patterns. In an attempt to create standardized French, Parisian intellectuals and leaders shunned other French dialects, deeming them crude, unintelligible or mere dialects. By 1993, the French regional languages of Corsican, Breton, Basque and Provencal were close to becoming extinct. Out of 2.8 million people living in Brittany, an estimated 50,000 used Breton daily and only half those were able to write it in 1993.

Turkey views the campaign to win linguistic and cultural rights for the country's large Kurdish-speaking minority as treason. Greece has an intolerant attitude toward Slav, Albanian and other minority languages within its region.

Claim

Discrimination against minority languages is a grave injustice that erodes cultural diversity and human dignity. Silencing these languages destroys heritage, marginalizes entire communities, and perpetuates inequality. Every language embodies unique worldviews and knowledge—losing them is an irreplaceable loss for humanity. We must urgently confront and end this discrimination, ensuring respect, protection, and promotion of all languages. Anything less is a betrayal of our shared human rights and global cultural legacy.

Counter-claim

Discrimination against minority languages is not a significant problem in today’s world. Globalization demands a common language for efficiency and unity, and focusing on minority languages only creates unnecessary division. Resources should be directed toward more pressing issues like poverty and healthcare. The decline of minority languages is a natural part of societal progress, not a crisis. Prioritizing this issue distracts from real challenges that actually impact people’s lives.