Official language

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/official-language

1. What is the number of countries with official languages?
2. What is the countries with multiple official languages?
3. Why do some countries have more than one official language?
4. What does it mean when a country has no official language at the federal level?

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the number of countries with official languages?178 countries officially recognize at least one language
2. What is the countries with multiple official languages?101 countries recognize more than one official language
3. Why do some countries have more than one official language?Countries with many different language groups choose more than one official language to be fair and to include everyone. It helps people from different backgrounds feel represented.
4. What does it mean when a country has no official language at the federal level?It means the country does not have a law that declares one language official. The most common language is used by everyone in practice.

De Jure: Designation by law; an official language formally recognized and legislated by the government.
De Facto: Designation by fact; a language that is commonly used and accepted as official without formal legal status.
Endoglossic Language: An official language that is indigenous to the country where it is spoken.
Exoglossic Language: An official language that is not indigenous to the country where it is spoken.