The Causes of Brexit and Its Consequences on the English Language in the Eu

Augustin Zonjić, Ivona Šetka-Čilić

Abstract


The paper discusses the causes and consequences of exit of the UK from the European Union, popularly called “Brexit” and whether that would change the position of English as the dominant language of the EU. Authors are also discussing whether the beginning of Brexit can be traced back further in the past, with a possible reality after 2016, when David Cameron, the Prime Minister of that time, being certain that it would not happen, agreed to hold a referendum on that question. However, the Prime Minister, the European Union and the entire world were taken by surprise when the majority of voting citizens opted for exit from the EU. The reasons for that are discussed in the paper. It is especially interesting whether, if it actually happens, the position of English will change, since it has been the “strongest” official language of the EU.

Keywords


Brexit; English language; European Union; official language; future of the EU

Full Text:

PDF

References


Ammon, U. (2010), Warum Deutsch in der EU diskriminiert wird. Die Welt, 25 Feb. 2010, available at: https://goo.gl/k6X8gg, retrieved 2 Dec. 2016

BBC (Jun. 6, 1975) UK embraces Europe in referendum. Available at: https://goo.gl/HeGWMm, retrieved 15 Nov 2016

CEPEI (2016), Stanovništvo EU i strani jezici, available at: https://goo.

gl/mPLZ yc, retrieved 19 Nov 2016

Comition of the European Communities (2005), A New Framework trategy

for Multilingualism, Brussels, 22.11.2005 COM(2005) 596 final, available on

https://goo.gl/Wird71, retrieved 19 Nov 2016

Crystal, D. (2003), English as a Global Language. 2nd. Cambridge University Press, New York

Curia Rationum (2016), Misused English words and expressions in EU publications, available at: https://goo.gl/HSTwSg, retrieved 18 Nov 2016

DG COMM (2012), Europeans and their Languages, available at: https://goo.gl/ZjaiB3, retrieved 19 Nov 2016

EACEA (2012), Ključni podaci o poučavanju jezika u školama u Europi,

Eurydice, available at: https://goo.gl/NWu1lj, retrieved 14 Nov 2016

EC (2016), EU languages: Statement on behalf of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, available at: https://goo.gl/z6tvQW, retrieved 30 Nov 2016

EEC Council (1958), Regulation No 1 determining the languages to be used by the European Economic Community, EUR-Lex - 31958R0001

EEC Euratom. (1985), Council Decision 85/257/ of 7 May 1985 on the Communities’ system of own resources. EUR-Lex.

Erlanger S., Castle, S (June 21, 2016) In ‘Brexit’ Vote, David Cameron Faces Problem of His Own Making. The New York Times. https://goo.gl/iJqXFO retrieved 19 Nov 2016.

Europa.eu (2016), FAQ - What are the working languages of the European Commission? Available at: https://goo.gl/EDCXff, retrieved 2 Dec. 2016.

Gourland, H. (Jun. 27, 2016), English will not be an official EU language after Brexit, says senior MEP Politico.eu: https://goo.gl/pYayrD, retrieved 29 Nov 2016

HM Treasury (2015), European Union Finances 2015: statement on the 2015 EU Budget and measures to counter fraud and financial mismanagement. Available at: https://goo.gl/SrVJYm, retrieved 14 Nov 2016

Hoskyns, C. and Newman, M. (2000), Democratizing the European Union: Issues for the twenty-first Century (Perspectives on Democratization). Manchester University Press.

Iličić, G. (2015), Različit pristup nacionalnom fenomenu i problem ravnopravnosti. u Identitetska i kulturna raznolikost BiH i europske perspektive jednoga podijeljenog društva, Zbornik radova, Sv 1, Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Mostaru, Mostar, str. 215

Jenkins, J., Modiano, M. and Seidlhofer, B. (2001), ‘Euro-English’, English Today, 17(4), p. 13-19

Journal C 321E (2006), Consolidated version of the Treaty establishing the European Community, EUR-Lex - C:2006:321E:TOC.

Kirk, A. (June 22, 2016), EU referendum: Which type of person wants to leave, and who will be voting to remain? The Telegraph: https://goo.gl/8doK3T, retrieved 18 Nov 2016

Kovacevic, T. (2016), Reality Check: How vulnerable is the UK’s rebate? BBC News. Available at: https://goo.gl/U0cUwf, retrieved 14 Nov 2016.

Lasić, M. (2016), Transnacionalne socijalizacije – politike i institucije Europske Unije. Paneuropska unija BiH i HKD Napredak, Mostar i Sarajevo

Lilico, A. (2016), We have won the Brexit war. Now it’s time to win the Brexit peace, available at: https://capx.co/54KqJ, retrieved 18 Nov 2016

Linn, A. (2016), Investigating English in Europe - Contexts and Agendas, Vol. 6. Gruyter Mouton, London

Morris, H. (2010), French language losing its cachet? Au contraire! Financial Times, available at: https://goo.gl/vS93lK, retrieved 21 Nov 2016

Myers, D. (2013), Social Psychology, Eleventh Edition. New York: The McGraw-Hill Co. p. 108

Official Journal, C 325 (1957), Treaty establishing the European Community. EUR-Lex - 12002E/TXT

Palokaj, A. (2014), Čak 97 posto djece uči engleski jezik, Jutarnji list, 25.09.2014,

Piccaver, M. (Jun. 24, 2016), The biggest political decision for a generation was based on a lie about £350m – the NHS will never see that. The Independent: https://goo.gl/E0JmSF, retrieved 30 Nov 2016

Piller, I. (2016), Have we just seen the beginning of the end of English? Available at: https://goo.gl/19SuOb, retrieved 29 Nov 2016

Ragan, L. and Jones, S. (2013), The Global English Language Learning (ELL)

Market, available at: https://goo.gl/cXKfMf, retrieved 30 Nov 2016

Seidlhofer, B. (2005), English as lingua franca. Oxford Journals: 339-341.

Steinhauser, G (2016), English Loses Currency as Europe’s Lingua Franca After Brexit Vote, The Wall Street Journal, available at https://goo.gl/hf1ewW, retrieved 29 Nov 2016

UKIP (2016), Statement from UKIP Leader Nigel Farage on EU Referendum Designation. Available at: https://goo.gl/qJoctH, retrieved 18 Nov 2016

Williamson, D. (2016), Language groups join forces to warn of ‘disastrous’ consequences of Brexit, Wales Online, available at: https://goo.gl/k1MCHN, retrieved 30 Nov 2016

Wintour, P. and Watt, N. (2014), Ukip wins European elections with ease to set off political earthquake. The Guardian, available at: https://goo.gl/znwC3S,

retrieved 18 Nov 2016

Withnall, A. and Payton, M. (2016), EU referendum results tracker: Follow the results live as Brexit is confirmed. Independent, 22 June 2016, available at: https://goo.gl/UdAEXQ, retrieved 2 Dec. 2016.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


ISSN: 2490-3604 (print) ● ISSN: 2490-3647 (online)

Društvene i humanističke studije - DHS is under the Creative Commons licence.