17 research outputs found
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
Linguistic imperialism: still a valid construct in relation to language policy for Irish Sign Language
Linguistic imperialism—a term used to conceptualize the dominance of one
language over others—has been debated in language policy for more than
two decades. Spolsky (2004), for example, has questioned whether the
spread of English was a result of language planning, or was incidental to
colonialism and globalization. Phillipson (2007) contests this view, arguing
that linguistic imperialism is not based on ‘conspiracy’, and is underpinned by
evidence of explicit or implicit language policy that aims to intentionally
advantage some languages at the expense of others. This paper aims to test
criteria of linguistic imperialism by exploring the treatment of Irish Sign
Language (ISL) in language policy, or lack thereof. It does this by exploring
evidence within a conceptual framework of linguistic imperialism to explore
how discrimination and inequality occurs in relation to Irish Sign Language
users in Ireland. The findings highlight many policies and practices that fit the
linguistic imperialism paradigm. The paper, therefore, challenges some views
in language policy that linguistic imperialism lacks credibility (see Spolsky
2004; Ferguson 2006) by highlighting a current case of a minority language
(ISL) under imperialistic-like control of a dominant language (English)
Fairness and social justice in language assessment
status: publishe