Civil rights

Making English One of the Official Languages to Complement Switzerland’s Multilingual Heritage

Petition is addressed to
The Swiss Federal Council and Parliament

20 signatures

5,000 for collection target

20 signatures

5,000 for collection target
  1. Launched 07/11/2024
  2. Time remaining > 10 months
  3. Submission
  4. Dialog with recipient
  5. Decision

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Petition is addressed to: The Swiss Federal Council and Parliament

We, the undersigned, call for the recognition of English as an official language in Switzerland. This change would facilitate communication, support economic growth, and promote inclusivity in a multilingual society.

Reason

English:
The motivation for this petition is not to replace local languages, but to add English as one of the official languages to complement the existing ones. Swiss German, French, Italian, and Romansh will remain essential parts of Swiss identity. Official recognition of English would bring multiple benefits: enhanced global competitiveness, improved education and career opportunities, better tourism and emergency services, and increased inclusivity for foreign residents. It’s a step towards aligning Switzerland with a globalized world while preserving its rich multilingual heritage.

German:
Das Ziel dieser Petition ist es nicht, die lokalen Sprachen zu ersetzen, sondern Englisch als eine der Amtssprachen hinzuzufügen, um die bestehenden Sprachen zu ergänzen. Schweizerdeutsch, Französisch, Italienisch und Rätoromanisch bleiben wesentliche Bestandteile der Schweizer Identität. Die offizielle Anerkennung von Englisch würde zahlreiche Vorteile bringen: erhöhte globale Wettbewerbsfähigkeit, bessere Bildungs- und Berufsmöglichkeiten, verbesserten Tourismus und Notfalldienste sowie mehr Inklusion für ausländische Einwohner. Es ist ein Schritt, die Schweiz mit einer globalisierten Welt in Einklang zu bringen und gleichzeitig ihr reiches mehrsprachiges Erbe zu bewahren.

French:
Cette pétition n’a pas pour objectif de remplacer les langues locales, mais d’ajouter l’anglais comme langue officielle pour compléter celles existantes. Le suisse allemand, le français, l’italien et le romanche resteront des éléments essentiels de l’identité suisse. La reconnaissance officielle de l’anglais apporterait de nombreux avantages : compétitivité mondiale accrue, meilleures opportunités éducatives et professionnelles, amélioration du tourisme et des services d’urgence, et plus grande inclusivité pour les résidents étrangers. C’est une étape pour aligner la Suisse avec un monde globalisé tout en préservant son riche patrimoine multilingue.

Italian:
La motivazione di questa petizione non è quella di sostituire le lingue locali, ma di aggiungere l’inglese come una delle lingue ufficiali per integrare quelle esistenti. Il tedesco svizzero, il francese, l’italiano e il romancio rimarranno parti essenziali dell’identità svizzera. Il riconoscimento ufficiale dell’inglese apporterebbe numerosi vantaggi: maggiore competitività globale, migliori opportunità educative e professionali, miglioramento del turismo e dei servizi di emergenza, e maggiore inclusività per i residenti stranieri. È un passo per allineare la Svizzera al mondo globalizzato, preservando al contempo il suo ricco patrimonio multilingue.

Romansh:
La finamira da questa petiziun n’è betg da remplazzar las linguas localas, mabain da agiuntar l’englais sco ina da las linguas uffizialas per cumplementar quellas existentas. Il tudestg svizzer, il franzos, l’italian ed il rumantsch restan parts essenzialas da l’identitad svizra. Il renconuschiment uffizial da l’englais purtass numerus avantatgs: pli gronda cumpetitivitad globala, meglras schanzas d’educaziun e da carriera, meglierament dal turissem e dals servetschs d’urgenza, ed ina inclusivitad augmentada per ils abitants estras. Igl è in pass per allinear la Svizra cun in mund globalisà, preservond sia ritga patrimoni plurilingua.

Thank you for your support, Shuvaseesh Das from Neuenhof
Question to the initiator

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Petition details

Petition started: 11/07/2024
Petition ends: 11/07/2025
Region: Switzerland
Topic: Civil rights

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Why people sign

Je pense que la Suisse est culturellement tournée vers une forme de protectorat. Ce que je respecte tout en espérant faire partir entièrement de cette culture.
Utiliser l’anglais parmi les langues officielles changerait certes historiquement le principe des langues officielles basées sur la répartition territoriale traditionnelle et les minorités autochtones. Ce serait peut être même un gros choc au conservatisme suisse.
Mais 21% de la population résidente (en raison de l’immigration/factuelle) parle une langue non nationale. L’anglais comme langue officielle pourrait aider cette population dans le processus d’intégration.

L’anglais comme langue officielle (économique) pourrait peut-être également faciliter les mouvements des suisses (pour le travail par exemple) plus aisément vers d’autres régions.
On pourrait même penser à de nouveaux ponts linguistiques entre la suisse romande et alémanique. Ce qui réduirait l’effet « Röstigraben ».

Introducing English as an official language in Switzerland could offer several benefits:
1. Global Connectivity: It would enhance Switzerland's participation in international business, diplomacy, and academia.
2. Economic Growth: English would attract foreign investment and strengthen industries like finance and technology.
3. Cultural Exchange: It could improve communication with tourists and expatriates, boosting tourism and international collaboration.
4. Educational Access: Swiss students would have greater access to global academic resources and opportunities.
5. Internal Communication: English could help unify communication across Switzerland’s diverse linguistic regions.
6. Career Opportunities: It would improve job prospects for Swiss citizens in global industries

I'm leaving in Switzerland for 12 years, always working and never had enough time to go to school and improve my German.
If Switzerland would accept English as an official language, I could use my background and get a better job and have a better life quality.
I'm very grateful for everything Switzerland gave me and really would like to use my skills to remain in Switzerland doing something that I really like and continue investing to Switzerland economy.

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