International Perspective

Summary Table of the Countries Examined

Belgium
631001

Belgium

Designation in the country's
official languages
Belgique - België - Belgien
Area 30,527km² (Canada: 9,976,140km²)
Population 2014 11.4 million (est. 2017) / Canada: 32.82 million (est. 2016)

Dutch: 55.7%
French: 37.1%
German: 0.3%
Other languages: 12.2%

Official Languages Dutch, French, and German
Capital City Brussels
Main Language Laws -Constitution(1994)
-Law Governing the Use of Languages in Administrative Matters, coordinated on July 18, 1966.
Switzerland
632001

Switzerland

Designation in the country's
official languages
Suisse - Schweiz - Svizzera - Svizra
Area 41,285km² (Canada: 9,976,140km²)
Population (2004) 8.4 million (est. 2017) / Canada: 36.2 million (est. 2016)

German: 57.3%
French: 20.7%
Italian: 3.5%
Rumansh: 0.4%
Other languages: 18.1%

Official languages German, French, Italian, and Rumansh (regional)
Capital City Bern
Language Laws Constitution (2000)
Federal Act on National Languages and Harmony Among Linguistic Communities (draft bill, March 2001)
Federal Act Respecting Financial Assistance for the Safeguard and Promotion of the Rumansh and Italian languages and Cultures (October 6, 1995)
Finland
641001

Finland

Designation in the country's
official languages
Suomi - Finland
Area 337,032km² (Canada: 9,976,140km²)
Population (2017) 5.5 million (est. 2017) / Canada: 36.2 million (est. 2016)

Finnish: 89.9%
Swedish: 5.4%
Other languages: 4.7%

Official languages Finnish and Swedish
Capital City Helsinki
Language Laws Constitution (2000)
Language Act (2004)
Ireland
651001

Ireland

Designation in the country's
official languages
Héireann - Ireland
Area 337,032km² (Canada: 9,976,140km²)
Population (2004) 4.7 million (est. 2016) / Canada: 36.2million (est. 2016)

English: 83/6%
Irish: 3.5%
Other languages: 12.8%

Official languages English and Irish
Capital City Dublin
Language Laws Constitution (2000)
Official Languages Act (2003)
India
661001

India

Designation in the country's
official languages
India - Bharât / भारत
Area 3.2 million km² (Canada: 9,976,140km²)
Population (2004) 1.342 billion (est. 2017) / Canada: 36.2 million (est. 2016)

English: 2 %
Hindi: 44.9 %
Other languages: 53.1 %

Official languages English and Hindi
Capital City New Delhi
Language Laws Constitution (1950)
Official Languages Act (1963-1967)
Official Languages Rules (1976-1987)
Spain
671001

Spain

Designation in the country's
official languages
España (off. Castillan); Espanya (Catalan), España (Galician), Espainia (Basque)
Area 504,748 sq km (Canada: 9,976,140 sq km)
Population (2004) 42.8 millions (est. 2004) / Canada: 31.8 millions (est. 2004)

Castillan: 72.8%
Catalan: 10%
Galician: 8.2%
Basque: 1.5%
Other languages: 7.5%

Official Languages Castillan (central)
Catalan, Basque, Galician (regional)
Capital City Madrid
Language Laws Constitution (2000)
Laws of linguistic significance
Cameroon

 

Carte Cameroun


Cameroon

Name in the official languages of the country Cameroun - Cameroon
Area 475 442 km² (Canada : 9 976 140 km²)
Population (2017) 25,2 millions (est. 2018) / Canada : 36,2 millions (est. 2016)

Français : 78 %
Anglais : 22 %
Autres langues : plus de 260 langues africaines

Official languages of the country French and English
Capital Yaoundé
Language laws Constitution (1996)
Circular No. 001/CAB/PM of 16 August relative to the practice of bilingualism  (1991);
-
Decree No. 2017/013 of 23 January 2017 to lay down the establishment, organization and functioning of the National Commission on the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism
Singapore

 


Singapore

Name in the official languages
of the country

Republic of Singapore (in English)

Republik Singapura (in Malay)

Cingkappūrā Kudiyaracu (in Tamil:  சிங்கப்பூர்)

Xīnjīapō Gònghégúo (in Chinese: 新加坡共和国)

Area 693 km² (Canada : 9 976 140 km²)
Population (2018)

5.7 million (est. 2018) / Canada: 36.2 million (est. 2016)

Mandarin Chinese: 24.8 %

Malay: 6.7 %

Tamil: 2.0 %

English: 3.7 %

Other languages: 3.72% (more than 40 other languages)

Official languages English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil
Capital City Singapore
Language Laws - Constitution(1995)
- Official Languages Act(2004)
- Official Languages Rules(1957)
Mauritiius


Maurice

 

Names

Republic of Mauritius (English)
République de Maurice (French)
Repiblik Moris (Mauritian)

Surface area

2040 km² (Canada: 9,976,140 km²)

Population (2018)

2.1 million (est. 2018) / Canada: 36.2 million (est. 2016)

Mauritian Creole: 86.5 %
Bhojpuri: 5.3 %
French: 4.1 %
Hindi: 2.8 %
E
nglish: 0.10 %
O
ther languages 1.2 %

Official languages

English (de facto)

French(de facto)

Capital

Port Louis (French: Port-Louis)

Laws relating to language

Constitution (1968)
- Courts Act (1945, in force)
- Education Act(1957)
- Local Government Act(2011)

 
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