Negotiating Language Barriers

This chapter approaches the issue of language barriers within the field of comparative administrative law. It first presents an outlook of the state of the art to give a sense of perspective on an ongoing comparative administrative law (CAL) discussion, with a view to providing the basis for further research in the field. The chapter next argues that the existing framework may be enriched by developing a further approach to the language issue. Such an approach emphasizes the cultural dimension of language barriers. Moreover, it is potentially functional to the maturation of CAL studies in a time of intense change and transformation of administrative law. Here, the chapter attempts to point to a potentially fruitful direction for future research, with a view to strengthening the role that CAL scholarship may play in the study of administrative law in transition.