September 2006

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FRIULIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ACT: TEN YEARS OF ENACTMENT

September 2006 – The Friulian Language Act has is 10 years old. According to experts, the Friulian Language and Culture Act 15/96 approved in 1996 marked a significant step forward in the promotion of the language. The recognition of the language started in 1981, year in which testimonial regional regulations were approved. The act emanated from article 6 of the Italian constitution of 1948, which establishes that “the Republic protects linguistic minorities by special laws”.

The 15/96 Act envisaged among other matters, the introduction of Friulian language in elementary education, the setting up of the Observatory of the Friulian language and culture –a public watch-dog over the observance of the law– and the provision of funding for linguistic research. In spite of this, it has been agreed by policymakers, linguists and legal advisers attending the second edition of the Feste ladine, that 15/96 Act needs to be updated and adapted to the current social and legal framework. With regard to this, Mercator-Legislation informed last January about the drafting of a proposal aiming at dealing with the shortcomings of the law currently in force –particularly those related to language teaching– and the lack of observance of the State Law 482/1999, approved three years after and which establishes the protection of historical minority languages of Italy.

Roberto Antonaz, a regional advisor for culture, confirmed at the meeting the regional government’s commitment to revise the Act 15/96 in the short run. With this aim in mind, a working group in charge of drafting a new language act proposal has been constituted by the Autonomous Regional Council of Friuli Venezia Giulia in its last plenary session.