Gjin taalsoarch yn de soarch. De rol fan Frysk en Meartaligens yn de soarch- en wolwêzenssektor yn Fryslân

Abstract

This article discusses how university-level healthcare and welfare course programs in the official bilingual Province of Friesland/Fryslân can best be aligned with healthcare practice regarding the use of Frisian and the inclusion of other forms of multilingualism. 15 interviews with healthcare and welfare professionals confirm previous findings on the significant role of minority languages in the healthcare and welfare sector. When minority languages, such as Frisian, are used the bond between healthcare recipient and care provider is strengthened and the patient is better able to communicate. However, the 9 interviews with lecturers, directors and team leaders of healthcare and welfare programs in Fryslân show that these pay little attention to Frisian and multilingualism in their curriculum. At the same time, it appears that those involved in the teaching understand the importance of addressing communication in Frisian and other languages and recognise that this aspect should be embedded in courses that focus on properly connecting with the personal context of the care recipient. These results will be discussed by providing recommendations for healthcare and welfare programs in higher education on how to incorporate minority languages, in particular, and multilingualism, in general.