Episode 10 - Language Policy and Federalism Part 2: More Than Just Words

How do governments in multilingual federal countries approach the use of language in different areas? How do governance institutions in federations shape language provisions and accommodate the language needs of different linguistic communities?

In the concluding episode of our mini-series on language policy and federalism, we take a deep dive into how language policies in Canada, India and South Africa have attempted to navigate the opportunities and tensions of language in federations. We explore how language issues manifest in government administration and services, examine how colonial histories shape minority vs. majority language debates, and delve into the particularly tricky area of language in education.

Joining us on this episode:

Leslie Seidle, Public Policy Consultant and Senior Advisor, Forum of Federations

Asha Sarangi, Professor of Political Science, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Linda Cardinal, Assistant Vice Rector Research, Université de l’Ontario français

Miranda Huron, Director of Indigenous Affairs and Education, Capilano University

Michelle Maziwisa, Programme Manager, Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa Master's Programme, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria

Also featuring:

Liam Whittington, Senior Program Manager, Forum of Federations

Jamie Thomas, Program Officer, Forum of Federations

The Forum’s compendium on language policy in federations is out now! Download Language Policy in Federal and Devolved Countries - The Collected Works for free! 

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Get in touch with the podcast! Send us your thoughts on this and other episodes, as well as ideas for future topics you’d like to hear discussed, to podcast@forumfed.org.

Written and hosted by Jamie Thomas and Liam Whittington.

Produced by Liam Whittington.