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Freedom of Expression and Choice of Language *
Author(s) -
GREEN LESLIE
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
law and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.534
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1467-9930
pISSN - 0265-8240
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9930.1991.tb00067.x
Subject(s) - expression (computer science) , symbol (formal) , charter , freedom of expression , value (mathematics) , politics , linguistics , identification (biology) , sound (geography) , ethnic group , political science , sociology , computer science , law , human rights , philosophy , acoustics , botany , machine learning , biology , programming language , physics
This paper argues that sound principles of freedom of expression protect an individual's choice of which language to speak. They do so, not to guarantee against mistranslation, but rather to ensure that speakers are able to reach their intended audiences and, more importantly, to allow for the expressive value of speaking a particular language as a symbol of ethnic or political identification. The example of Quebec's Charter of the French Language and the resulting litigation is considered in some detail.