State recognition for ‘contested languages’: a comparative study of Sardinian and Asturian, 1992–2010

While the idea of a named language as a separate and discrete identity is a political and social construct, in the cases of Sardinian and Asturian doubts over their respective ‘languageness’ have real material consequences, particularly in relation to language policy decisions at the state level. The Asturian example highlights how its lack of official status means that it is either ignored or subjected to repeated challenges to its status as a language variety deserving of recognition and support, reflecting how ‘official language’ in the Spanish context is often understood in practice as synonymous with the theoretically broader category of ‘language’. In contrast, the recent state recognition of Sardinian speakers as a linguistic minority in Italy (Law 482/1999) illustrates how legal recognition served to overcome existing obstacles to the implementation of regional language policy measures. At the same time, the limited subsequent effects of this Law, particularly in the sphere of education, are a reminder of the shortcomings of top-down policies which fail to engage with the local language practices and attitudes of the communities of speakers recognized. The contrastive focus of this article thus acknowledges the continued material consequences of top-down language classification, while highlighting its inadequacies as a language policy mechanism which reinforces artificial distinctions between speech varieties and speakers deserving of recognition

Einfluss von Salzloesungen unterschiedlicher Zusammensetzung auf die Mobilitaet von Schwermetallen in Strassenrandboeden und im Laborauslaugversuch

Der Zusammenhang zwischen erhoehter Salzkonzentration in der Bodenloesung und der Schwermetallmobilitaet wurde in Laborversuchen und mit Bodensickerwasseranalysen untersucht. Sickerwasseruntersuchungen am Autobahnrandstreifen in 30 cm und in 80 cm Tiefe ergaben eine streusalzbedingte Erhoehung der Ionenkonzentration von Chlorid, Natrium und Calcium waehrend der Wintermonate auf Werte bis zu 5223 mg/L (Cl), 2000 mg/L (Na) und 852 mg/L (Ca). Parallel dazu erhoehten sich die Konzentrationen von Cadmium, Quecksilber und Zink auf Werte bis zu 82,9 #mu#g/L (Cd), 10 #mu#g/L (Hg) und 3760 #mu#g/L (Zn). Ebenso wurde ein Anstieg der Nickelkonzentrationen und, zeitlich versetzt, der Kupfergehlte in der Bodenloesung festgestellt. Eine Mobilisierung von Blei in Abhaengigkeit vom Streusalzeinsatz war nicht zu ermitteln. Im Verlaufe des Jahres verringerten sich die Elementkonzentrationen langsam, insbesonders in 80 cm Tiefe. Im Zeitraum zwischen September und dem daraufflogenden Streusalzeinsatz wurden die niedrigsten Konzentrationen im Bodensickerwasser gemessen. Eine streusalzbedingte Erhoehung des pH-Wertes konnte nicht ermittelt werden. In 80 cm Tiefe wurde waehrend der Wintermonate vielmehr ein Rueckgang der Werte auf pH 6,5 festgestellt. Dies ist auf die Freisetzung austauschbarer H"+-Ionen zurueckzufuehren. (orig./EF)Laboratory tests and seepage water analyses were made to investigate the correlation between higher soil solution salt concentrations and the mobility of heavy metals. Analyses of seepage water 30 cm and 80 cm below the surfaces of the marginal strips of motorways showed that de-icing salts caused an increase in the ion concentrations of chloride (5223 mg/l), sodium (2000 mg/l) and calcium (852 mg/l) during the winter season. Parallel increases in the concentrations of cadmium (82.9 #mu#g/l), mercury (10 #mu#g/l), zinc (3760 Mg/l), and nickel, and a deferred increase in soil solution copper contents were observed. It was found that de-icing salts do not mobilize lead. In the course of the year a slow decrease in the concentrations of the elements was observed especially at a depth of 80 cm. The lowest seepage water element concentrations were measured in the period ranging from September to the day of the first use of de-icing salts. The pH values at a depth of 80 cm decreased down to 6.5 under the influence of de-icing salts. This decrease was found to be due to the release of exchangeable H"-+ ions. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RO 3338(24) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

Bodenkundliche Untersuchungen zu thermischen, chemischen und biologischen Bodenreinigungsverfahren Schlussbericht fuer den Bearbeitungszeitraum 1990 bis 1994

Das Gefaehrdungspotential kontaminierter Standorte wird ueber Gefaehrdungsabschaetzungen klassifiziert. Diese Einschaetzung kann zu verschiedenen Massnahmen fuehren. Sie reichen von der reinen Ueberwachung des Standortes ueber Schutz- und Beschraenkungsmassnahmen, Sicherung durch verschiedene Einkapselungen, Umlagerungsmassnahmen bis zur Dekontamination der verunreinigten Materialien (SRU, 1990). Die Bodenreinigung ist dabei die aufwendigste Massnahme und sollte zu einer endgueltigen Beseitigung des Schadens fuehren, ohne dass an anderer Stelle neue Lasten entstehen. (orig.)The hazard potential of contaminated sites is evaluated by means of risk assessments. These can entail diverse measures being taken that may range from the mere observation of the site over protective and restricting measures, different encapsulations to ensure its safety as well as the shifting of contaminated matter, to the decontamination of the site (Council of Experts on Environmental Questions SRU, 1990). Of these measures, soil cleaning demands the greatest effort and should lastingly repair the damage without new damage being caused in another place. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F97B1678 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Education and training futures in horticulture and horticultural science

Horticultural knowledge and skills training have been with humankind for some 10,000 to 20,000 years. With permanent settlement and rising wealth and trade, horticulture products and services became a source of fresh food for daily consumption, and a source of plant material in developing a quality environment and lifestyle. The knowledge of horticulture and the skills of its practitioners have been demonstrated through the advancing civilizations in both eastern and western countries. With the rise of the Agricultural Revolutions in Great Britain, and more widely across Continental Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the move towards colonisation and early migration to the New Worlds, many westernised countries established the early institutions that would provide education and training in agriculture and horticulture. Today many of these colleges and universities provide undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational and technical training that specifically targets horticulture and/or horticultural science with some research and teaching institutions also providing extension and advisory services to industry. The objective of this chapter is to describe the wider pedagogic and educational context in which those concerned with horticulture operate, the institutional structures that target horticulture and horticultural science education and training internationally; examine changing educational formats, especially distance education; and consider strategies for attracting and retaining young people in the delivery of world-class horticultural education. In this chapter we set the context by investigating the horticultural education and training options available, the constraints that prevent young people entering horticulture, and suggest strategies that would attract and retain these students. We suggest that effective strategies and partnerships be put in place by the institution, the government and most importantly the industry to provide for undergraduate and postgraduate education in horticulture and horticultural science; that educational and vocational training institutions, government, and industry need to work more effectively together to improve communication about horticulture and horticultural science in order to attract enrolments of more and talented students; and that the horticulture curriculum be continuously evaluated and revised so that it remains relevant to future challenges facing the industries of horticulture in the production, environmental and social spheres. These strategies can be used as a means to develop successful programs and case studies that would provide better information to high school career counsellors, improve the image of horticulture and encourage greater involvement from alumni and the industries in recruitment, provide opportunities to improve career aspirations, ensure improved levels of remuneration, and promote the social features of the profession and greater awareness and recognition of the profession in the wider community. A successful career in horticulture demands intellectual capacities which are capable of drawing knowledge from a wide field of basic sciences, economics and the humanities and integrating this into academic scholarship and practical technologies