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Understanding the daily challenges of multilingualism

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Understanding the daily challenges of multilingualism

Speaking many languages in a multilingual country is certainly a blessing – but can it ever be a burden? We look at the similarities and differences between Switzerland – where the four national languages are German, French, Italian and Romansh – and officially bilingual Canada.

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I write articles on the Swiss Abroad and “Quirky Switzerland” as well as daily/weekly briefings. I also translate, edit and sub-edit articles for the English department and do voiceover work for videos. Born in London, I have a degree in German/Linguistics and was a journalist at The Independent before moving to Bern in 2005. I speak all three official Swiss languages and enjoy travelling the country and practising them, above all in pubs, restaurants and gelaterias.

Thomas Stephens, swissinfo.ch

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Multilingualism: speaking with one voice

This content was published on I’m waiting in the lobby of the west wing of the Swiss parliament for Graham Fraser, Canada’s Commissioner of Official LanguagesExternal link, to be ushered in by his Swiss counterpart, Nicoletta Mariolini. I’m curious as to what language the English and Italian speakers have chosen to converse in when they arrive. It’s French. Fraser is…

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR