Del 3 - Linguistic Diversity and Language Rights

Minority Languages and Cultural Diversity in Europe

Gaelic and Sorbian Perspectives

Inbunden, Engelska, 2007

1 399 kr

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To what extent is linguistic continuity a prerequisite for ethno-cultural survival? Focusing on the Gaelic community in Scotland and the Sorbs of Lusatia, this study illuminates core assumptions and rationales in relation to minority language revitalisation ideologies in Scotland and Germany and shows how they have been affected by assimilation processes arising from modernisation and globalisation. A thorough review of relevant theoretical debates is followed by a presentation of historical contexts and a detailed analysis of contemporary discourses about bilingualism, cultural difference and ethno-cultural belonging within the Gaelic and Sorbian communities. Drawing on more than 100 interviews, a questionnaire survey and a wide range of comments by Gaelic and Sorbian speakers in the media, the author identifies current ideological faultlines in Gaelic and Sorbian activist circles and argues that minority language planners must critically engage with competing theoretical paradigms if revitalisation efforts are to be successful.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2007-08-06
Mått148 x 210 x 27 mm
Vikt636 g
FormatInbunden
SpråkEngelska
SerieLinguistic Diversity and Language Rights
Antal sidor397
FörlagChannel View Publications Ltd
ISBN9781853599323

Tillhör följande kategorier

1 Introduction 2 Ethnocultural Minorities in Europe: The Political Context 3 Multilingualism as Premise of Cultural Diversity: Theories on Language, Thought and Culture from the Enlightenment to the Present 4 Gaelic in Scotland 5 Sorbian in Lusatia 6 Language Metaphysics on the Ground: Gaelic and Sorbian in Relation to Thought, Culture and Self 7 Narratives of Continuity: Language as a Unifier 8 The (Re)Production of Difference: Language as Source of Social Boundaries 9 Conclusion Bibliography Appendix

The English-speaking world has needed a book along these lines for a long time and this is a very ambitious one. The Sorbs and the Gaels allow us to reflect on minority issues from an Eastern and a Western angle. What are the differences? I hope this text will help readers of all backgrounds understand the desire of minorities to maintain their cultures and identities, and how important a contribution marginalised groups can make to Europe's vision of unity in diversity.