Language policy for multilingualism in Greek public administration: fact or fiction?

• Mattheoudakis, Marina ^[1] ; Katsavarou, Eleftheria ^[1]
  1. [1] Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

     Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

     Dimos Thessaloniki, Grecia

     
• Localización: Current issues in language planning, ISSN 1466-4208, Vol. 27, Nº. 3, 2026, págs. 323-345
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1080/14664208.2025.2478359
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • The present study aims to provide valuable insights regarding the necessity of multilingual skills in the public sector to successfully address linguistic diversity. To this end, we investigated the linguistic profile, language needs and attitudes towards multilingualism among civil employees in the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum and the Ministry of the Interior in Greece; the main research tool was a questionnaire specifically designed for the purpose of this study. The main findings, based on the analysis of 243 responses reveal that while English serves as the primary language for task completion and professional communication, there is a notable demand for proficiency in less common languages. The findings also reflect a broad range of diverse language practices among monolingual staff, highlighting the need for targeted training programs to effectively equip employees with the knowledge and skills required. Furthermore, the study advocates for a balanced approach to language policy that integrates both top-down government intervention and bottom-up participation from civil employees, allowing for more comprehensive solutions to the complex nature of linguistic diversity.

• Referencias bibliográficas
  • Angouri, J. (2009). Language policy and language practice in the workplace; a study of public and private companies situated in Greece. Journal...
  • Angouri, J. (2013). The multilingual reality of the multinational workplace: Language policy and language use. Journal of Multilingual and...
  • Angouri, J., Mattheoudakis, M., & Zigrika, M. (2010). Then how will they get ‘the much-wanted paper’? A multifaceted study of English...
  • Aubin, D., Lhommeau, L., Squevin, P., & Riche C. (2018). Explaining the policy advisory role of civil servants in the policy process:...
  • Baldauf, R. B. (2006). Rearticulating the case for micro language planning in a language ecology context. Current Issues in Language Planning,...
  • Blijleven, W., & van Hulst, M. (2021). How do frontline civil servants engage the public? Practices, embedded agency, and bricolage. The...
  • Burckhardt, T. (2021). Linguistic diversity and equality within the public administration: Issues and challenges, Working Paper No. 21–5,...
  • Constitution of Greece. (2019). Issue of the Government Gazette, Α, 211/24.12.2019.
  • Cooper, C. A., & Turgeon, L. (2024). Linguistic diversity and public servants’ turnover intentions: Theory and analysis from a multilingual...
  • Council of Europe. (1950). The European convention on human rights. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/glossary/european-convention-on-human-rights-echr.html
  • Dale-Olsen, H., & Finseraas, H. (2020). Linguistic diversity and workplace productivity. Labor Economics, 64, 101813. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2020.101813
  • Dendrinos, B. (2015). Is ‘Multilingualism’ taking a back seat in the EU? Time for action. In G. Stickel & P. Nuolijärvi (Eds.), Language...
  • Dendrinos, B., & Theodoropoulou, M.. (2008). Language issues and language policies in Greece. In European federation of national institutions...
  • Dörnyei, Z., & Taguchi, T. (2010). Questionnaires in second language research. Construction, administration and processing (2nd ed.)....
  • European Commission. (2012). Europeans and their languages. Summary. Special Eurobarometer 386. https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2979
  • European Commission. (2020). Action plan on integration and inclusion 2021–2027. COM/2020/758 final.
  • European Ombudsman. (2001d). The European code of good administrative behaviour. European Parliament. https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/publication/en/3510
  • European Parliament, Council of the European Union & European Commission. (2000). Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union,...
  • Fishman, J. A., Solano, F. R., & McConnell, G. D. (1991). A methodological check on three cross-polity studies of linguistic homogeneity/heterogeneity....
  • Frijhoff, W., Escalle, M.-C.K., & Sanchez-Summere, K. (2008). Multilingualism, nationhood, and cultural identity. Amsterdam University...
  • Fϋrst, G. (2023). Inter-group relations and attitudes. In M. Gazzola, F. Grin, & K. Heugh (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of language policy...
  • Gazzola, M. (2016). Research for CULT-committee-European strategy for multilingualism: Benefits and costs. European Parliament. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/IPOL_STU(2016(open...
  • Gazzola, M., Grin, F., Cardinal, L., & Heugh, K. (2023). Language policy and planning: From theory to practice. In M. Gazzola, F. Grin,...
  • Ghosh, A. (2019). Nationalism as a threat to multilingualism. In M. Abhijit (Ed.), Bulletin of the department of linguistics , Number 21 (pp....
  • Gogonas, N. (2008). Language shift in second generation Albanian immigrants in Greece. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development,...
  • Heugh, K. (2023). Language policy and planning, and mobilization in post-colonial civil societies. In M. Gazzola, F. Grin, & K. Heugh...
  • Hornberger, N. H., & McCarty, T. L. (2012). Globalization from the bottom up: Indigenous language planning and policy across time, space,...
  • Johnson, D. C. (2023). Critical empirical approaches in language policy and planning. In M. Gazzola, F. Gobbo, D. C. Johnson, & J. A....
  • Karlsson, S., & Karlsson, T. S. (2020). Language policy as ‘frozen’ ideology: Exploring the administrative function in Swedish higher...
  • Kim, K., & Angouri, J. (2022). ‘It’s hard for them to even understand what we are saying’ (.) language and power in the multinational...
  • Law 4781/2021. Organosi kai leitourgia Ypourgeiou Exoterikon, Symvoulio Apodimou Ellinismou, rythmisi thematon diethnous anaptyxiakis synergasias...
  • Liddicoat, A. J. (2022). Language planning for diversity in language education. Current Issues in Language Planning, 23(5), 457–465. https://doi.org/10.1080/14664208.2022.2088968
  • Lo Bianco, J. (1987). The national policy on languages. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 10(2), 23–32. https://doi.org/10.1075/aral.10.2.03bia
  • Ministry of the Interior (2024). Statistical data of the human resources registry of the Greek public sector (Census). https://84.205.194.219/hrstatistics/pub/menu.php
  • O’Rourke, B., & Castillo, P. (2014). Top-down’ or ‘bottom-up’? Language policies in public service interpreting in the Republic of Ireland,...
  • Panhellenic Union of Professional Graduate Translators of the Ionian University. (2020). Οn the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ consultation...
  • Presidential Decree 85/2022. Kathorismos prosonton diorismou se foreis tou Dimosiou (Prosontologio-Kladologio). Government Gazette of the...
  • Ricento, T. K., & Hornberger, N. H. (1996). Unpeeling The Onion: Language planning and policy and the ELT professional. TESOL Quarterly,...
  • Samira, H. (2012). Regulating and negotiating linguistic diversity: Top-down and bottom-up language planning in the Moroccan city. Current...
  • Sotiropoulos, D. A. (2018). Public administration characteristics and performance in EU28: Greece. European Commission.
  • Spanou, C. (2008). State reform in Greece: Responding to old and new challenges. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 21(2),...
  • Spolsky, Β. (2004). Language policy. Cambridge University Press.