Book
Language Phenomena and Language Policies around the World
(2013)
Abstract
How does a government determine its official language? What is done to cultivate language skills needed to meet national priorities? What type of language legislation and rights are in place in other countries? How can fluent bilingualism be cultivated? What responsibilities do governments have to develop and promote the natural linguistic resources of minority communities? How are endangered languages protected by official agencies?
Coming from an European nation where bilingualism is common and 4 languages are official, and residing in Oregon where the Department of Motor Vehicles provides driving tests in 5 other languages (Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Japanese), the general assumption is that language policies are needed. Governments need to facilitate clear communication, foster political participation, and provide access to public services. Nevertheless some basic questions arise from this assumption, how do language policies accommodate inclusive practices of minority languages, as well as offer opportunities to assimilate to the official language? How does linguistic identity operate with social assimilation in a multilingual landscape? To what extent are official models being influenced by language contact?
Continuous innovations in technology and the internet have transformed our global community and our day-to-day functioning. Globalization and economic factors have increased the importance of language diversity and language contact. Therefore, it becomes essential to welcome further investigations in analyzing languages within their social, political, and cultural boundaries.
The scope of this volume is intended to present research in language policies from around the world and language phenomena of interest to both the general reader and the scholar in the field of linguistics.
Keywords
- multilingualism,
- diglossia,
- language rights,
- linguistic minorities,
- official language,
- minority languages,
- language policies.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2013
Editor
Eva Núñez Méndez
ISBN
15165485
Citation Information
Núñez-Méndez, E. (Editor ad hoc). 2013. Language Phenomena and Language Policies around the World. International Journal of Humanities, RIH 16 (27): 1 -114. [Special issue].