Exploring the Dynamics of Multilingualism: The DYLAN project(2 Multilingualism and Diversity Management)

This book addresses the meanings and implications of multilingualism and its uses in a context of rapid changes, in Europe and around the world. All types of organisations, including the political institutions of the European Union, universities and private-sector companies must rise to the many challenges posed by operating in a multilingual environment. This requires them, in particular, to make the best use of speakers’ very diverse linguistic repertoires. The contributions in this volume, which stem from the DYLAN research project financed by the European Commission as part of its Sixth Framework Programme, examine at close range how these repertoires develop, how they change and how actors adapt skilfully the use of their repertoires to different objectives and conditions. These different strategies are also examined in terms of their capacity to ensure efficient and fair communication in a multilingual Europe. Careful observation of actors’ multilingual practices reveals finely tuned communicational strategies drawing on a wide range of different languages, including national languages, minority languages and lingue franche. Understanding these practices, their meaning and their implications, helps to show in what way and under what conditions they are not merely a response to a problem, but an asset for political institutions, universities and business.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction; 2. Part I. Companies; 3. Chapter 1. Multilingual practices in professional settings: Keeping the delicate balance between progressivity and intersubjectivity (by Markaki, Vassiliki); 4. Chapter 2. The practical processing of plurilingualism as a resource in professional activities: 'Border-crossing' and 'languaging' in multilingual workplaces (by Greco, Luca); 5. Chapter 3. Multilingualism and diversity management in companies in the Upper Rhine Region (by Ludi, Georges); 6. Chapter 4. Representations of multilingualism and management of linguistic diversity in companies: Intertwining of collective monophony and polyphony in individual enunciators (by Bothorel-Witz, Arlette); 7. Chapter 5. A social representational perspective on languages and their management in the Danish corporate sector (by Millar, Sharon); 8. Chapter 6. What can Gaelic teach us about effective policy through planning?: Strategies in Gaelic language planning (by Milligan, Lindsay); 9. Chapter 7. Language diversity management on corporate websites (by Yanaprasart, Patchareerat); 10. Part II. European institutions; 11. Chapter 8. Language competence and language choice within EU institutions and their effects on national legislative authorities (by Kruse, Jan); 12. Chapter 9. EU and lesser-used languages: Slovene language in EU institutions (by Stritar, Mojca); 13. Chapter 10. Dynamics of multilingualism in post-Enlargement EU institutions: Perceptions, Conceptions and Practices (by Krzyzanowski, Michal); 14. Part III. Higher education; 15. Chapter 11. Accomplishing multilingualism through plurilingual activities (by Nussbaum, Luci); 16. Chapter 12. Multilingual higher education between policies and practices: A case study (by Veronesi, Daniela); 17. Chapter 13. Plurilingualisms and knowledge construction in higher education (by Gajo, Laurent); 18. Chapter 14. Language policies in universities and their outcomes: The University of Helsinki in a Northern European context (by Moring, Tom); 19. Chapter 15. Policies and practices of multilingualism at Babes-Bolyai University (Cluj, Romania) (by Oltean, Stefan); 20. How policies influence multilingual education and the impact of multilingual education on practices (by Van de Craen, Piet); 21. Part IV. Transversal issues; 22. Chapter 17. Assessing efficiency and fairness in multilingual communication: Theory and application through indicators (by Grin, Francois); 23. Chapter 18. English as a lingua franca in European multilingualism (by Hulmbauer, Cornelia); 24. Chapter 19. Europe's multilingualism in the context of a European culture of standard languages (by Moliner, Olivier); 25. Conclusion (by Berthoud, Anne-Claude); 26. Index

Review :
This book provides an important cross-disciplinary contribution to the scientific community. Although it is aimed at a readership of scholars, its findings provide convincing evidence of the advantages of multilingualism in different spheres of communication. It therefore becomes important to disseminate the results also to non-specialists who contribute to preserving language diversity. The chapters are skillfully divided into sections, to guide the reader towards an in-depth understanding of the complexity and the dynamic nature of multilingualism. In sum, the book tackles difficult issues and complex fields in an admirable way and provides important directions for future research. This book is a shining example of outstanding European collaboration. The contributors from various language backgrounds have used a wide variety of epistemological, methodological and theoretical approaches to investigate multilingualism in Europe. This cultural and scientific diversity turns out to be, just like the linguistic diversity prevalent in Europe, a huge asset. The result is an inspiring book presenting a nuanced yet convincing view of the benefits of linguistic diversity. In a knowledge-based global economy that has to ensure both economic competitiveness and social justice, multilingual societies like those of the European Union have to deal with a linguistic diversity that is both a challenge and an enormous opportunity. Given the profound link between language, knowledge and power, this ambitious and pathbreaking book asks the fundamental question: “To what extent and under what conditions is multilingualism an asset for the construction, transmission and use of knowledge?” With scholarly teams from 18 different universities in 12 European countries, the authors have used a variety of methodologies from various fields in the language sciences to capture what is actually going on at institutional meetings and companies’ workplaces, in corporate boardrooms and public schoolrooms. It offers policy makers, business stakeholders and educators invaluable guidance on how to turn linguistic diversity into an asset. The book should be compulsory reading for any doctoral student in sociolinguistics, education, and language policy and planning, and for anyone interested in the study of globalization and multilingualism. The diverse nature of the topics investigated, the various methodological approaches employed, and the multiple contexts presented paint quite a complex and comprehensive picture of today’s European linguistic diversity. Although it covers many areas of study and geographical contexts, the main research question of the project can be easily followed throughout the book. It is a commendable accomplishment for such a large project, involving so many research teams.