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Language and Identity: Why Minority Communities Need Their Language to Be Seen

For national minorities, language is much more than just a tool for communication. It is a link to their roots, a symbol of belonging, a living history. The right to use one’s language in public spaces is, at its core.

5 min read · 15 Jul 2025

Michalina Szpyrka ·

Imagine This: You Speak a Language No One Sees

Picture someone who has lived in the same town their whole life, speaks their community’s language at home, teaches it to their children, and keeps its traditions alive. But when they walk outside, none of that is reflected in the public space — not on road signs, official documents, or public buildings. It’s as if their language, and by extension their identity, doesn’t exist.

This is the everyday reality for many minority groups in Europe. Despite long histories and deep ties to their regions, their languages remain invisible in public life. This is not just an abstract issue — it affects how people feel about their place in society, especially in countries like Poland and Lithuania, where language visibility takes on very real forms.

For minorities, language is not an accessory. It is the heart of the community, a sign of identity and continuity. When it disappears from the public sphere, the message is clear: “You do not belong here.”

Poland: Making Space for Minority Languages

In Poland, a 2005 law offers a legal framework for making minority languages visible again. While the law has limitations, it provides practical tools for recognition. In municipalities where minorities make up at least 20% of the population, bilingual place names in both Polish and the minority language can be introduced.

Thanks to this, dozens of towns now have signs in German, Belarusian, Lithuanian, or Kashubian. These signs are more than just administrative formalities — they’re powerful symbols. They say: Your language, your culture, and your presence matter here.

Of course, it’s not always smooth. There have been acts of vandalism, public protests, and even legal challenges — particularly concerning German-language signs. But the system exists and proves that a country can balance linguistic unity with respect for diversity.

Lithuania: State Language vs. Minority Rights?

The situation in Lithuania is more complicated. Although the country has ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the way it’s implemented — especially toward the Polish minority — raises concerns.

In areas like Vilnius and Šalčininkai, where Polish communities form the majority, unofficial Polish-language signs have been used for years. These signs express local identity and a sense of belonging. But Lithuanian authorities have repeatedly declared them illegal. Signs have been removed, and local governments fined.

At the heart of the issue is the Law on the State Language, which has been interpreted to exclude all other languages from public space — even in areas with strong minority presence. From a human rights perspective, this sends a troubling message: that the visibility of minority languages is a threat to national unity.

Why This Isn’t Just a “Technical Issue”

To most people, a street sign in another language might seem like a minor detail. But for minority communities, it can mean everything. It’s a sign of dignity, recognition, and inclusion. It tells them: You belong. Your history matters.

From the standpoint of international law, the issue is clear. Article 11(3) of the Framework Convention explicitly calls on states to respect traditional place names and signs in minority languages, in areas where these groups have historically lived. This is not a privilege — it’s a right rooted in cultural identity and human dignity.

The absence of such signs is not a neutral act. It’s a symbolic erasure, suggesting that only one language and one culture deserve public recognition. And that erasure can hurt deeply.

European Values in Local Practice

Although the right to use minority languages in public is backed by international agreements and Council of Europe standards, it is ultimately up to national governments to make it real. Poland and Lithuania illustrate two very different approaches.

Poland, despite its challenges, has created a system that allows minority communities to reclaim symbolic space. Lithuania, while formally committed to minority rights, uses legal interpretation to restrict visibility. The result? For many Lithuanian Poles, their native language remains invisible in a place they’ve called home for generations.

This isn’t just a legal issue — it’s a question of values. Should unity come at the cost of excluding diversity? Or can a state build stronger community ties by recognizing and including all of its people?

Visibility Is Recognition

Making minority languages visible in public life isn’t about decoration. It’s about justice and equality. It says: You are part of this country. Your language deserves space here. We see you.

This isn’t identity politics — it’s fairness. When a minority language appears on a road sign or official document, it means people don’t have to fight every day just to prove they exist. It means they don’t have to choose between loyalty to their country and loyalty to their cultural identity.

Because in a truly inclusive society, diversity is not a threat — it’s a strength.

Written by

Michalina Szpyrka

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