Revivals, Nationalism, and Linguistic Discrimination: Threatening Languages

ISBN-13: 9781138193314 / Angielski / Twarda / 2019 / 138 str.

Umberto Ansaldo (University of Hong Kong; H Kara Fleming (University of Hong Kong

Opis

Is linguistic revival beneficiary to the plight of newly emerging, peripheral or even `threatened' cultures? Or is it a smokescreen that hides the vestiges of nationalist ideologies, which ultimately create a hegemonic relationship? This book takes a critical look at three revival exercises of exemplary historical and geopolitical value, and argues that a critical, negative look at revival movements is necessary. The cases of Catalan, Kazakh and Mongolian show that it is not through linguistic revival but through economic development that the peoples in question achieve competitiveness, representation and equality amongst their neighbours. On the other hand, linguistic revival in these and other contexts can be used at the detriment of other, marginal groups, recreating the same dynamics that generated to need for revival in the first place. This book argues that respect for linguistic and other diversity, multilingualism and multiculturalism, are not compatible with linguistic revival that mirrors nation-building and sovereign identity construction.

Recenzje

"In Revivals, Nationalism, and Linguistic Discrimination Fleming and Ansaldo offer a lucid and accessible exposition of language politics across a number of contrasting jurisdictions. In so doing they provide an overview of where we are now in global developments in language policies and the practical and ideological tensions that inform them. For once, language politics is treated within academic linguistics as real politics, rather than being viewed through the lens of a predetermined ideological position – typically European vernacular Romanticism. In this way the authors bring new insights and dynamic analysis to bear on an important, fascinating, yet deeply contested domain." — Christopher Hutton, Professor, School of English, University of Hong Kong

Spis treści

1. On Language, Power, and the Nation  2. Sri Lanka: Linguistic Nationalism and its Perils  3. Kazakhstan: Revival in Postcolonial Negotiations  4. Mongolia: Purism, Identity, and the Other  5. Hong Kong: Language and Survival in a ‘One-China’ World  6. Catalonia: Good and Bad Revivals  7. Reflections and Takeaways