Uniformity and Diversity in Language Policy: Global Perspectives(145 Multilingual Matters)

This book brings together current research by leading international scholars on the often contentious nature of language policies and their practical outcomes in North America, Australia and Europe. It presents a range of perspectives from which to engage with a variety of pressing issues raised by multilingualism, multiculturalism, immigration, exclusion, and identity. A recurrent theme is that of tension and conflict: between uniformity and diversity, between official policies and real day-to-day life experiences, but also between policies in schools and the corporate world and their implementation. Several chapters present research about language policy issues that has previously not been fully or easily available to an English-language audience. Many of the chapters also provide up-to-date analyses of language policy issues in particular regions or countries, focusing on recent developments.

Table of Contents:
Preface General Introduction Part I-Language Policy at the Official Level Introduction to Part I Chapter 1-Jane Warren and Leigh Oakes: Language Policy and Citizenship in Quebec: French as a Force for Unity in a Diverse Society? Chapter 2-Sally Boyd: Do National Languages Need Support and Protection in Legislation? The Case of Swedish as the ‘Principal Language’ of Sweden Chapter 3-Uldis Ozolins: Language Policy and Smaller National Languages: The Baltic States in the New Millennium Chapter 4-Paulin G. Djité: Language Policy in Australia: Does What Goes Up Have to Come Down? Chapter 5-Leigh Oakes: Regional Languages, the European Charter and Republican Values in France Today Part II-Language Policy in Practice: Indigenous and Migrant Languages in Education Introduction to Part II Chapter 6-Tadhg Ó Hifearnáin: Breton Language Maintenance and Regeneration in Regional Education Policy Chapter 7-David Lasagabaster: Language Policy in Spain: The Coexistence of Small and Big Languages Chapter 8-Catherine E. Travis and Daniel J. Villa: Language Policy and Language Contact in New Mexico: The Case of Spanish Chapter 9-Gillian Wigglesworth and David Lasagabaster: Indigenous Languages, Bilingual Education, and English in Australia Chapter 10-Yvette Slaughter: Bringing Asia to the Home Front. The Australian Experience of Asian Language Education through National Policy Part III-Language Policy in Real and Virtual Worlds Introduction to Part III Chapter 11-Kerry Ryan and Tim Mcnamara: Testing Identity: Language Tests and Australian Citizenship Chapter 12-Diarmait Mac Giolla Chríost: Language as Political Emblem in the New Culture War in Northern Ireland Chapter 13-Claudia Maria Riehl and John Hajek: Language Policy and Reality in South Tyrol Chapter 14-Heinz l. Kretzenbacher: Addressing Policy on the Web: Netiquettes and Emerging Policies of Language Use in German Internet Forums Chapter 15-Catrin Norrby and John Hajek: Language Policy in Practice. What Happens When Swedish IKEA and H&M Take ‘You’ On? Chapter 16-Deborah Cameron: Regulating Language in the Global Service Industry

About the Author :
Catrin Norrby is Professor of Scandinavian Languages at Stockholm University, Sweden, and Principal Fellow in the School of Languages and Linguistics at The University of Melbourne. She has published several monographs, edited books, textbooks and articles in the areas of sociolinguistics, discourse analysis and second language acquisition. She is co-author of Language and Human Relations: Styles of Address in Contemporary Language (2009). John Hajek is Professor of Italian and Director of the Research Unit for Multilingualism and Cross-cultural Communication (RUMACCC) in the School of Languages and Linguistics at The University of Melbourne. He is also founding president of the Languages and Cultures Network for Australian Universities (LCNAU).

Review :
The book is a valuable addition to the literature on language policy both at the macro and the micro levels. It serves to bring to one’s notice that linguistic rights are increasingly being acknowledged both in the recognition of weaker languages by the state and of using them in schooling and other domains. It also shows an increasing democratization in culture through the promotion of language norms associated with solidarity and non-hierarchical behavior than was the case before. Uniformity and Diversity in Language Policy is a welcome addition to the study of language policy and planning with a balanced mixture of contributions that consolidate, elaborate and innovate research on well-known as well as recently emerging language problems and linguistic practices. This book is an important instalment in language planning literature serving to expand the domains and kinds of language policy described, the modes in which it operates, the players involved and the purposes they pursue. Language policy invariably involves politics and tension, a focus which unifies the diverse chapters of this volume allowing comparison, contrast and reflection across sites, settings and histories. The quality of the studies in this volume testifies to the fact the authors are experts with deep insight into the issues and locations they describe. Although the chapters are very diverse in geography and focus, they concern a number of topics of general interest, such as citizenship, nation building, the situation of indigenous populations, minority language education, economic interests in language policy, efforts to change communicative norms, etc.…The book under review is a useful contribution to our understanding of the historical development and present contexts of language policy creation and implementation at various levels, from supranational to local, in the Western world. Readers will very likely find in it something which will complement their knowledge of the locations or aspects of language policy they are interested in. Thanks to the book's relatively wide geographical coverage and its attention to the outcomes of language policies cast against historical and present-day backgrounds, persons working in language policy can find here inspiration for their work on language issues in their own countries.