Denmark

Danmark

Country context

Danish is the official language of Denmark, which has approximately 5,500,000 inhabitants. 90% of these are ethnic Danes with Danish as their mother tongue. For the remaining 10%, only one minority language, German, is recognised officially. The overall number of native speakers of German located in South Jutland amounts to approximately 20,000.

Apart from the Danish speakers who live in Denmark, Danish is also the native or cultural language of around 50,000 Germano-Danish citizens living in the south of Schleswig. 

In the Faroe Islands and Greenland, the law of autonomy guarantees the official status of the Faroese and Greenlandic languages, although Danish is a compulsory subject in schools. In Iceland, Danish has been a part of the school curriculum since the beginning of the 19th century and Danish is still used to facilitate communication with other Nordic countries. 

Denmark has ratified the Nordic Language Convention (1987), which secures the right of Nordic citizens to use their own language to communicate with the authorities in all Nordic countries. Denmark has also ratified the Nordic Language Declaration (2006), which is a joint policy document of the Nordic Council of Ministers. It states that both national and minority languages should be supported and protected, that universities should use a parallel language strategy ensuring the use of English alongside the use of the national languages, and that the citizens of Nordic countries should be given the opportunity to learn their mother tongue and acquire skills in a language of international importance and skills in another foreign language.

Languages in official documents and databases

The national language, foreign languages, R/M languages and immigrant languages are dealt with in language legislation. The learning and teaching of the national language abroad for children and/or adults originating from Denmark is (co-)funded in about 20 countries in Europe and abroad. The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages has been signed and ratified by Denmark. German as a R/M language is recognised in the Charter. Eskimo-Aleut (in Greenland) and Faroese are also protected by Laws on Home Rule. In Denmark, there is official provision in education, supported by the Charter, for German.

Official nation-/region-wide data collection mechanisms on language diversity in Denmark do not exist.

 

There are no provisions for the use of Danish or other languages in the Danish constitution and there is no specific law providing overall regulation for language use. However, rulings for language are part of legislation in other fields, for example in promoting Danish as a second language for minority students, and there is a law stating that all schools and public institutions must use the Danish orthography provided by the Danish Language Council.

Although there is no official recognition or policy documents for sign languages, official recommendations for the teaching of sign languages exist.

There are no official nationwide or region wide data collection mechanisms on language diversity in Denmark.

Languages in pre-primary education

 

OLO

Regional/Minority Languages

LE

Foreign Languages

LI

Immigrant Languages

Apoyo LN
adicional

National Languages
Grupos destinatarios
OLO: todos solo hablantes nativos sin apoyo
LE: todos restringidos sin apoyo
LI: todos solo hablantes nativos sin apoyo
LN Adicionales: todos solo hijos de inmigrantesy  sin apoyo
3 none 2 3
Duración
o igual a 2 años 1 año <1 año  
2 none 2 2
Requisitos mínimos de tamaño de grupos
ninguno  5-10  >10
2 none 2 3
Días a la semana
 >1 día  0.5-1 día  <0.5 día
2 none 2 2
Formación del profesorado anterior al ejercicio de la profesión
EspeciaIizado por materia general ninguno
2 none 2 2
Formación del profesorado durante el ejercicio de la profesión
EspeciaIizado por materia general ninguno
2 none 2 3
Financiación pública disponible
completa parcial ninguna
3 none 3 3

Languages offered in pre-primary education

Otras lenguas oficiales

German

Lenguas extranjeras

-

Lenguas de la inmigración

Albanian, Arabic, Bosnian, Icelandic, Panjabi, Somali, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu

More than 85% of the children in Denmark attend either private or public day care. Danish local authorities are obliged to monitor the linguistic development of all children who do not attend day care at the age of three, and to initiate language stimulation up to 15 hours a week if necessary. The purpose of language stimulation is to provide the child with the necessary language skills in Danish before the start of school. Children that attend day care on a regular basis do not have to be monitored but they receive mandatory language stimulation if necessary.

Languages in primary education

Organisation

 

OLO

Regional/Minority Languages

LE

Foreign Languages

LI

Immigrant Languages
Plan de estudios
Coherente y explícito general sin pautas  
none 3 3
Lengua como medio de instrucción (CLLI)
  generalizado localizado no hay  
none 1 1
Grupos destinatarios
OLOL: todos solo hablantes nativos sin apoyo
LE: todos restringidos sin apoyo
LI: todos solo hablantes nativos sin apoyo
none 3 2
Comienzo de la educación e lenguas
a partir del primer año a partir del primer ciclo a partir del Segundo ciclo  
none 2 3
Programación
en horario escolar una parte en la escuela fuera de la escuela   
none 3 1
Requisitos mínimos de tamaño de grupo
ninguno 5-10 >10  
none 2 1
Seguimiento de las competencias lingüísticas
Según normas nacionales según escuela no hay  
none 3 2
Nivel que debe alcanzarse
OLO: Según normas nacionales o regionales según normas de la escuela no se especifica
LE: Vinculado al MCERL según normas del país o la escuela no se especifica
LI: Según normas nacionales o regionales según normas de la escuela no se especifica
none 2 1
Financiación pública disponible
completa parcial ninguna  
none 3 3

 

LN

National Languages
Plan de estudios
Coherente y explícito general sin pautas  
3
Apoyo extra para los recién llegados
Antes de los cursos generales durante los cursos generales no hay  
3
Prueba de acceso
Todos solo inmigrantes no hay  
3
Seguimiento de las competencias lingüísticas
Según normas nacionales según escuela no hay  
3

Teaching

 

OLO

Regional/Minority Languages

LE

Foreign Languages

LI

Immigrant Languages
Titulación del profesorado
Profesores de idiomas profesores generalistas sin titulación  
none 3 3
Formación del profesorado anterior al ejercicio de la profesión
Especializado por materia general ninguno  
none 3 2
Formación del profesorado durante el ejercicio de la profesión
Especializado por materia general ninguno  
none 2 2
Movilidad
Incluida en la formación apoyo financiero informal ninguna not applicable  
0 2 0

 

LN

National Languages
Titulación del profesorado
Profesores de idiomas profesores generalistas sin titulación  
2
Formación del profesorado anterior al ejercicio de la profesión
Especializado por materia general ninguno  
2
Formación del profesorado durante el ejercicio de la profesión
Especializado por materia general ninguno  
2

Languages offered in primary education

Otras lenguas oficiales

-

Lenguas extranjeras

English and French or German compulsory, Spanish, German or French, and immigrant languages optional

Lenguas de la inmigración

-

Danish children normally start primary school at the age of five or six and leave at the age of 15 or 16.

Until 2002 extra-curricular education in immigrant languages was provided at primary school level and funded by the government. This is still the case for students from the EU, EEA, Greenland and the Faroe islands. For all other students, since 2002 it has been up to each local community to provide education in immigrant languages. Therefore education in immigrant languages is only offered in large communities with a high number of immigrants, for example Copenhagen.

A recent committee-report ‘Sprog er nøglen til verden’ (2011) suggests the introduction of English already in the first year of primary school and the introduction of a third language (German or French) at the age of 11-12. Furthermore, the report suggests that a broad range of languages such as Arabic, Chinese and Portuguese/Brazilian should be offered as electives.

 

Languages in secondary education

Organisation

 

OLO

Regional/Minority Languages

LE

Foreign Languages

LI

Immigrant Languages
Plan de estudios
Coherente y explícito general ninguno   
none 3 3
Lengua como medio de instrucción (CLLI)
generalizado localizado no hay  
none 1 1
Grupos destinatarios
OLO: todos  solo hablantes nativos sin apoyo
LE: todos restringido sin apoyo
LI: todos solo hablantes nativos sin apoyo
none 3 3
Programación
en horario una parte en la escuela fuera de la escuela  
none 2 1
Requisitos mínimos de tamaño de grupo
ninguno 5-10 >10  
none 1 2
Seguimiento de las competencias lingüísticas
Según normas estatales según escuela no hay  
none 3 2
Nivel que debe alcanzarse
OLO: Según normas nacionales o regionales según normas de la escuela no se especifica not applicable
LE: Vinculado al MCERL según normas del país o la escuela no se especifica not applicable
LI: Según normas nacionales o regionales según normas de la escuela no se especifica not applicable
none 3 2
Financiación pública disponible
Completa parcial ninguna  
none 3 3

 

LN

National Languages
Plan de estudios
Coherente y explícito general ninguno   
3
Apoyo extra para los recién llegados
antes de los cursos generales durante los cursos generales no hay  
1
Prueba de acceso
Todos solo inmigrantes no hay  
1
Seguimiento de las competencias lingüísticas
Según normas estatales según escuela no hay  
1

Teaching

 

OLO

Regional/Minority Languages

LE

Foreign Languages

LI

Immigrant Languages
Titulación del profesorado
profesores de idiomas profesores generalistas sin titulación  
none 3 3
Formación del profesorado anterior al ejercicio de la profesión
especializado por materia general ninguno  
none 3 3
Formación del profesorado durante el ejercicio de la profesión
especializado por materia general ninguno  
none 2 2
Movilidad
incluida en la formación algún apoyo financiero ninguna not applicable  
0 2 0
Nivel lingüístico requerido
Vinculado al MCERL según normas del país o la escuela no se especifica not applicable  
0 2 0

 

LN

National Languages
Titulación del profesorado
profesores de idiomas profesores generalistas sin titulación  
3
Formación del profesorado anterior al ejercicio de la profesión
especializado por materia general ninguno  
3
Formación del profesorado durante el ejercicio de la profesión
especializado por materia general ninguno  
2
Nivel lingüístico requerido a los hablantes no nativoss
Vinculado al MCERL según normas del país o la escuela no se especifica  
2

Languages offered in secondary education

Otras lenguas oficiales

-

Lenguas extranjeras

Compulsory: English
Optional: Ancient Greek, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish

Lenguas de la inmigración

Arabic and Turkish

Sound knowledge of the national language is expected in upper secondary education in Denmark. The assessment of language skills is part of the admission procedure to the secondary level.

Danish and English are the only compulsory languages, whereas Ancient Greek, Arabic, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish and Turkish have been optional since the latest reform in 2005. The reform has lead to a dramatic decrease in the number of students that learn many foreign languages. The number of students who are taught three foreign languages dropped from 41% to 3% and in spite of minor adjustments of the reform, the picture has not changed significantly. 

 

Languages in Further and Higher Education

Further Education (in three institutions)

 

Institución A Institución B Institución C

OLO

Regional/Minority Languages

LE

Foreign Languages

LI

Immigrant Languages

OLO

Regional/Minority Languages

LE

Foreign Languages

LI

Immigrant Languages

OLO

Regional/Minority Languages

LE

Foreign Languages

LI

Immigrant Languages
Catálogo de programas de apoyo lingüístico
Gran variedad variedad limitada ninguno
none 1 none none 1 none none none none
Plan de estudios
Coherente y explícito general sin pautas
none 1 none none 1 none none 1 none
Nivel que debe alcanzarse
Vinculado al MCERL nacional ninguno not applicable
0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
Financiación pública disponible
Completa parcial ninguna
none 1 none none 3 none none 1 none

Apoyo LN
adicional

National Languages

Apoyo LN
adicional

National Languages

Apoyo LN
adicional

National Languages
Catálogo de programas de apoyo lingüístico
Gran variedad variedad limitada ninguno
2 none none
Grupos destinatarios
todos restringidos ninguno
3 none none
Plan de estudios
Coherente y explícito general sin pautas
3 none none
Competencias relacionadas con la profesión
si no
3 none none
Cursos generales de especialización
si no
3 none none
Financiación pública disponible
Completa parcial ninguna
3 none none
Periodos de formación en empresas
Incluidos en los cursos opcionales  ninguno
3 none none
Utilización de herramientas de la UE
si no
1 none none

Languages offered across 3 VET institutions in Denmark

Otras lenguas oficiales

-

Lenguas extranjeras

English, German, French, Spanish

Lenguas de la inmigración

-

Higher Education (in three institutions)

 

Institución A

Institución B

Institución C

Lengua (s) de instrucción
Nacional extranjeras y otras lenguas oficiales solo la lengua nacional
2 2 3
Lenguas en la página web
Nacional extranjeras y otras lenguas oficiales solo la lengua nacional
2 2 2
Grupos destinatarios de apoyo adicional en la lengua nacional
todos restringidos ninguno
3 3 2
Nivel que debe alcanzarse en la instrucción de lenguas extranjeras
Vinculado al MCERL según normas nacionales o de la institución ninguno
1 1 1
Inscripción de alumnos extranjeros
Internacionales e inmigrantes solo internacionales solo hablantes nativos de la lengua nacional
2 2 2
Movilidad de estudiantes de lenguas
Obligatoria opcional no hay oferta
2 2 2
Movilidad de los estudiantes de otras disciplinas
Obligatoria opcional no hay oferta
2 2 2

Languages offered across 3 higher education institutions in Denmark

English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Danish universities comply with the Anglo-Saxon education system (Bachelor-Master) following the process to create a European Higher Education Area (Bologna process). As a result of these changes as well as an increased focus on internationalisation in general and to attract international students, Danish universities offer more than 25% of their courses in English. Also academy profession schools (90-150 ECTS) and professional bachelor's schools (180-240 ECTS) offer quite a number of programmes in English.

Since 2005 the number of students entering programmes in foreign languages other than English has been falling steadily, which has led to the closing of several language programmes. Spanish, German and French are still taught in many places whereas Italian and Russian have almost no students. A small increase has been noticed in Japanese and Chinese. Some universities offer Turkish and Arabic.

 

Languages in Audiovisual Media and Press

 

Copenhagen

Aarhus

Aabenraa

Número de lenguas en la radio
>4 3-4 1-2 sólo en la lengua nacional
1 1 1
Número de lenguas en televisión
>4 3-4 1-2 sólo en la lengua nacional
4 4 4
Producciones de TV en lenguas no nacionales
Dobladas subtituladas
4 4 4
Películas cinematográficas en lenguas no nacionales
Dobladas subtituladas
4 4 4
Programas en otras lenguas oficiales fuera de la región
Siempre regularmente a veces nunca
4 4 4
DisponibiIidad de lenguaje de signos en TV
Siempre regularmente a veces nunca
3 1 1

Languages offered in audiovisual media and press across 3 cities in Denmark

Radio

-

Television

English, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian

Periódicos

English, German, French, Swedish, Italian, Norwegian, Arabic, Turkish, Chinese, Spanish, Bosnian, Russian, Serbian, Urdu

Denmark has six national television channels, three of which (DR1, DR2, TV2) are paid via a general license fee. In addition, several local television channels broadcast every day. According to a law of December 2002, programmes on public radio and television must ensure public access to information and important social debates. They must also draw on Danish language and culture.

Sign language is regularly offered in important media events and there is a special sign language channel. 

 

Languages in public services and spaces

Institutionalised language strategies at city level

> 4 3-4 1-2  national language only

frequency of practice: widely practised occasionally practised not practised

Copenhagen

Aarhus

Aabenraa

Servicios municipales

3 none 4

Presencia en la página web

6 none 4

Informes municipales anuales

0 none 0

Traductores e intérpretes externos o internos

3 none 3

Competencias en lenguas distintas a la nacional en la descripción de los puestos del personal

0 none 1

Plan o procedimientos in situ para aumentar las competencias lingüísticas

3 none 1

Contratación de hablantes de lenguas para respaldar objetivos corporativos

0 none 1

Oferta de formación en idiomas para empleados

3 none 1

Registro regularmente actualizado de las competencias lingüísticas de los empleados

0 none 0

Planes de recompensa o promoción para empleados que puedan comunicarse adecuadamente en otra lengua

0 none 0

Oral Communications Facilities

>4 3-4 1-2 national language only

Copenhagen

Aarhus

Aabenraa

Debates políticos y procesos de toma de decisiones a nivel municipal

1 1 2

Servicios educativos

1 1 2

Servicios de emergencia

4 2 2

Servicios sanitarios

4 2 1

Servicios sociales

4 1 2

Servicios jurídicos

4 2 1

Servicios de transporte

4 1 1

Servicios a la inmigración y de integración

4 2 2

Servicios turísticos

4 2 2

Programación teatral

1 2 1

Written Communications Facilities

>4 3-4 1-2 national language only

Copenhagen

Aarhus

Aabenraa

Debates políticos y procesos de toma de decisiones a nivel municipal

1 1 1

Servicios educativos

1 2 2

Servicios de emergencia

4 1 1

Servicios sanitarios

2 4 1

Servicios sociales

4 1 2

Servicios jurídicos

3 3 1

Servicios de transporte

3 2 1

Servicios a la inmigración y de integración

4 4 2

Servicios turísticos

3 2 2

Programación teatral

1 1 1

Languages offered in public services and public spaces across 3 cities in Denmark (N ≥ 2)

English, German, French, Arabic, Bosnian, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Swedish, Faroese, Norwegian, Chinese, Icelandic, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Thai, Burmese, Polish

The Nordic Language Convention states that citizens of the Nordic languages have the right to address public institutions in any of the Nordic countries in their own language.

Languages in business - 12 companies

General Language Strategies

Practicadas ampliamente

Practicadas ocasionalmente

No practicadas

Estrategias lingüísticas in situ

4 3 5

Énfasis sobre las competencias lingüísticas en la contratación

7 3 2

Provisión de moviIidad internacional

1 3 8

Utilización de traductores/intérpretes externos

5 1 6

Mantenimiento de registros sobre las competencias lingüísticas de los empleados

0 4 8

Utilización de redes en la enseñanza de idiomas

0 1 11

Utilización de programas/financiación de la UE

0 0 12

Conocimiento de programas/financiación de la UE

0 2 10

Internal Language Strategies

Practicadas ampliamente Practicadas ocasionalmente No practicadas

LN

National Language

IN

Business English

LE-R/M - LI

LN

National Language

IN

Business English

LE-R/M - LI

LN

National Language

IN

Business English

LE-R/M - LI

Asociaciones con el sector de la enseñanza de lenguas

1 0 0 2 2 0 9 10 12

Planes de recompense/promoción según competencias lingüísticas

0 0 0 0 0 0 12 12 12

Provisión de enseñanza de idiomas

3 2 0 3 5 3 6 5 9

Utilización del MCERL

0 0 0 0 0 0 12 12 12

Lenguas utilizadas en documentos internos/intranet

11 3 0 1 2 0 0 7 12

Lenguas utilizadas en el software y programas web

11 6 0 0 3 0 1 3 12

External Language Strategies

Practicadas ampliamente Practicadas ocasionalmente No practicadas

LN

National Language

IN

Business English

LE-R/M - LI

LN

National Language

IN

Business English

LE-R/M - LI

LN

National Language

IN

Business English

LE-R/M - LI

Lenguas utilizadas en informes anuales/comerciales

10 4 0 0 2 0 2 6 12

Lenguas utilizadas en márketing

12 3 0 0 2 0 0 7 12

Lenguas utilizadas en marcas/identidad

12 5 0 0 2 2 0 5 10

Lenguas utilizadas en página web

11 6 2 0 2 0 1 4 10

Languages other than English offered in business across 12 companies in Denmark (N ≥ 2)

Norwegian, Swedish, German, Spanish, Finnish, Polish

Danish business is mainly composed of small and medium sized businesses. 92% of the companies have fewer than ten employees and less than 2% have more than 50 employees. 67.7% of the jobs are in private companies.

According to a survey made by Danish Industry in 2007, more than 25% of the large businesses use English as the corporate language. The use of other languages and of translation services is decreasing. Danish Industry has expressed severe concerns about the falling numbers of language students and has suggested combined competences, i.e. the combination of engineering skills and language skills as one of the solutions.

 

Key Findings overall

For the last 150 years Denmark has been a mainly monolingual country with Danish as the main language and where the citizens had a fairly good command of German and French and, since 1945, English. Furthermore, Danes have had easy access to the whole of Scandinavia due to Danish, Norwegian and Swedish being mutually understandable.

During the last ten years English has gained a much stronger position at the cost of German and French. The parallel Danish/English language strategy of the Danish Government has strongly supported this development. Language skills in foreign languages including the Scandinavian languages are decreasing, and the command of immigrant languages such as Arabic and Turkish has not been promoted as an asset. As a consequence we see a falling interest in foreign languages other than English in universities, industry and schools. If Denmark wants to live up to the language policies of the EU and the Council of Europe, this development may become a serious challenge. The recent suggestions to introduce English already at the beginning of primary school will probably further accelerate this development.

 

Promising initiatives and pilots

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)

At Købmagergade skole in Fredericia experiments with internationalisation and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) have been taking place since 2001. In 2005 an international stream was establish for the lower secondary level where sciences such as biology and mathematics were taught in English by native English teachers.

Centre for Internationalisation and Parallel Language Use (CIP)

The Centre for Internationalisation and Parallel Language Use (CIP) was established in 2008 at the University of Copenhagen in order to augment the University's efforts to implement a language policy based on the principles of parallel language use.

Nordic Language Coordination

Nordic Language Coordination was established in 2009 under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers in order to enhance the mutual understanding between the speakers of the mainland Scandinavian languages: Danish, Swedish and Norwegian.

Tegn på sprog (Sign language)

Tegn på sprog is a research and development project established in 2008 for a period of six years by the Ministries of Education and Integration in broad cooperation with universities, university colleges and schools. The aim of the project is to gain insights into how children with Danish as their second language approach written Danish, and to develop new teaching strategies.

 

References

Sprog til Tiden (Language in time). Report by the language policy group of the Danish government (2008)

Sprog er nøglen til verden (Language is the key to the world). Report by a working group under the ministry of research, innovation and higher education (2011)

Nordic Convention of Languages (1987)

www.efnil.org

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