I’m afraid the article paints a rosier picture for Luxembourgish than is the case.
I moved Luxembourg rather recently. Here are my observations on the language situation as someone living in an area close to the capital:
1. Neighbours, even those born and brought up in Luxembourg, default to French while starting a conversation
2. Most contracts are available only in French – not even German at times.
3. Jobs in the private sector almost always require French – I think I’ve seen Luxembourgish as a nice to have on less than 5% of the ads I’ve gone through thus far. Govt. jobs require Luxembourgish, but a lot of these are open only to Luxembourgish citizens – so not a consideration for the near to medium term.
4. Traffic signs, pay and display (parking) machines instructions only in French.
5. Service staff at supermarkets, restaurants, etc. speak French and maybe English, if you’re lucky.
6. My own commune’s website is available exclusively in French.
7. Letters from CAE – French only. I have yet to deal with CSSF.
I simply don’t see any incentive to learn Luxembourgish as long as I don’t plan to naturalise or plant roots here. And there is absolutely no love lost between anything even remotely French and me; I’d rather learn Luxembourgish, but its usefulness is severely limited.
Unless the job market forces more people to learn Luxembourgish, and laws & contracts (at least partially) are drafted in Luxembourgish, the national language will always play second fiddle to French, and to German to an extent.
2 comments
Drop the french, adopt english
I’m afraid the article paints a rosier picture for Luxembourgish than is the case.
I moved Luxembourg rather recently. Here are my observations on the language situation as someone living in an area close to the capital:
1. Neighbours, even those born and brought up in Luxembourg, default to French while starting a conversation
2. Most contracts are available only in French – not even German at times.
3. Jobs in the private sector almost always require French – I think I’ve seen Luxembourgish as a nice to have on less than 5% of the ads I’ve gone through thus far. Govt. jobs require Luxembourgish, but a lot of these are open only to Luxembourgish citizens – so not a consideration for the near to medium term.
4. Traffic signs, pay and display (parking) machines instructions only in French.
5. Service staff at supermarkets, restaurants, etc. speak French and maybe English, if you’re lucky.
6. My own commune’s website is available exclusively in French.
7. Letters from CAE – French only. I have yet to deal with CSSF.
I simply don’t see any incentive to learn Luxembourgish as long as I don’t plan to naturalise or plant roots here. And there is absolutely no love lost between anything even remotely French and me; I’d rather learn Luxembourgish, but its usefulness is severely limited.
Unless the job market forces more people to learn Luxembourgish, and laws & contracts (at least partially) are drafted in Luxembourgish, the national language will always play second fiddle to French, and to German to an extent.
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