European Migration, Language Policy and Small States

This project examines what happens when migrants arrive in small countries such as Andorra and Luxembourg. The two situations are clearly comparable: both are small trilingual states characterised by the presence of small languages (Catalan and Luxembourgish) alongside demographically important languages (French, German and Spanish). The two countries, however, adopt different policies regarding the use of their various languages, and have different statuses vis-à-vis the EU.

To what extent do such differences affect migrant linguistic experiences for those who come to small states? Using quantitative and qualitative methods, the research team will address how Portuguese migrants engage with small languages like Luxembourgish and Catalan. It is expected that language policy decisions in Europe (including the UK) and beyond will be guided by the findings of this project.