The Continuing Neglect of Language Policy in Denmark

There has been extensive publicity about the decline of foreign language learning in Denmark for decades, but the prospect of any major improvement still seems remote. Rather than attempting a comprehensive survey, in this contribution, I restrict myself to noting key efforts to strengthen language policy, the importance of some Nordic initiatives, and at the other extreme, the abolition of all foreign language degrees at Copenhagen Business School (CBS) and its implications. As my examples show, there is a mismatch at the national level between knowledge about language policy needs, and government reluctance to act. The contribution is a personal narrative that serves to highlight the historical record and can inform present-day challenges. These exist at the levels of the state, individual institutions, and grassroots awareness of the diversity of languages and their potential.