A network model of language policy and planning: The United Nations as a case study

This paper contributes to recent critical discussion of ‘agency’ in LPP research and practice. It argues that whilst scholars have widened their purview to consider the impact of individual actors on LPP in different contexts, the field has not developed or embraced theoretical and methodological frameworks which satisfactorily model or investigate the network of actor impact on LPP. This article analyses the current status of LPP at the United Nations (UN). Taking the ‘Actor-Stage Model’ (Zhao & Baldauf, 2012) as a theoretical point of departure, the paper discusses and analyses the most recent review of LPP within the UN. It becomes apparent that a network of agents is responsible for LPP development, influence and implementation within the organisation. This ‘web of influence’ is schematised using a network model which accounts for the implicit and explicit responsibility of multiple actors/’experts’ within and outside of the organisation. A sub-analysis of institutional LPP goals reveals the ‘polycentric’ and ‘relational’ nature of influence within and across multiple ’nodes’. It is argued that the network model and the concept of ‘web of influence’ is crucial in de- and re-constructing particular LPP goals and serves as a useful heuristic for those investigating or working within similar sites of inter/transnational integration as well as LPP in other macro, meso or micro-contexts

The role of metaphor in shaping the identity and agenda of the United Nations: the imagining of an international community and international threat

This article examines the representation of the United Nations in speeches delivered by its Secretary General. It focuses on the role of metaphor in constructing a common ‘imagining’ of international diplomacy and legitimising an international organisational identity. The SG legitimises the organisation, in part, through the delegitimisation of agents/actions/events constructed as threatening to the international community and to the well-being of mankind. It is a desire to combat the forces of menace or evil which are argued to motivate and determine the organisational agenda. This is predicated upon an international ideology of humanity in which difference is silenced and ‘working towards the common good’ is emphasised. This is exploited to rouse emotions and legitimise institutional power. Polarisation and antithesis are achieved through the employment of metaphors designed to enhance positive and negative evaluations. The article further points to the constitutive, persuasive and edifying power of topic and situationally-motivated metaphors in speech-making

Language attitudes and use in a transplanted setting: Greek Cypriots in London

In this paper we explore language attitudes and use in the Greek Cypriot community in London, England. Our study is based on an earlier survey carried out in Nicosia, Cyprus and we compare attitudes to language and reported language use in the two communities. We thereby highlight the significance of sociolinguistic variables on similar groups of speakers. We further extend our investigation to include codeswitching practices in the London community. \ud Analysis of language attitudes and use within the Greek-Cypriot population of London, and comparisons with findings in Nicosia, reflect symbolic forces operating in the two contexts. Despite obvious differences between the two communities, (most obviously the official languages and distinct cultural backgrounds of the two nations), the Greek Cypriot Dialect continues to play an active role in both. English is however the ‘default choice‘ for young Cypriots in the UK and Standard Modern Greek occupies a much more limited role than in Cyprus. It is argued that differences in language attitudes and use can be interpreted in light of different market forces operating in the nation (i.e. Cyprus) and the Diaspora (i.e. UK)

Language attitudes, shift and the ethnolinguistic vitality of the Greek Orthodox community in Istanbul

The Greek Orthodox community of Istanbul has long existed as a bilingual Greek and Turkish grouping and remains largely unstudied. The sharp decrease in the size of this community to approximately 1000 members raises questions as to the maintenance of Greek in this setting. This study attempts to establish the current status of Greek in the community and explores key sociolinguistic and sociopsychological parameters relevant to its potential survival or loss. In particular, it investigates whether the symbolic status of Greek, its link with the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul and the strength of the community's ethnocultural identity are crucial factors that might underpin its survival. Data gathered via a questionnaire (investigating language use, attitudes and the ethnolinguistic status of the community) and interviews revealed that Greek has high symbolic status and plays a key role in defining ethnocultural identity. However Greek competence in the younger generation appears to be significantly declining. Greek is now widely spoken only in the home and at Church; and without significant changes language shift may in practice accelerate, despite a strong desire by the community to preserve their language

Geostrategies of interlingualism: language policy and practice in the international maritime organisation, London, UK

McEntee-Atalianis L.J. (2006) ‘Geostrategies of Interlingualism’: Language Policy and Practice in the International Maritime Organisation, London. UK. Current Issues in Language Planning. 7 (2&3):341-358. Fettes (2004) asserts that ‘politico-strategies’ of languages are no longer viable frameworks for ‘national and community policy’. Rather, he proposes the development of ‘geostrategies of interlingualism’, i.e. linguistic strategies which promote international communication equitably and efficiently, whilst respecting and ensuring language maintenance and pluralism. He asserts that the future development of interlingual communication will depend upon chosen communicative device(s). To date research has focused on ‘the advocates, developers and practitioners of each approach’ (p. 38) independently rather than on the influence of these instruments in combination on communities of speakers at micro and meso-levels. Supranational organisations serve as important sites of investigation for language planners interested in studying multi-functional/lingual communication. One such organisation is the ‘International Maritime Organisation’, established in 1958 to facilitate cooperation among governments in matters of international shipping. Currently 165 countries (and three associates) constitute its membership. There are six official and three working languages. This paper discusses the nature of interlingualism at IMO, investigating whether the instruments in place ensure equitable and efficient communication. Multilingual practices are guaranteed at the highest levels of political representation but at lower levels English functions as the main tool of communication. Comparisons are made with other supranational organisations

Code-switching and pausing: an interdisciplinary study

This study considers code-switching (CS) and pausing in two sociolinguistically distinct groups in London and Cyprus, bilingual in Greek-Cypriot dialect (GCD) and English. The characteristics of their speech are examined both in monolingual and code-switching modes (Grosjean, 2001). It is hypothesized that in London Greek-Cypriots, where CS is a ‘default mode’, pausing and speech rate would be affected by the same factors as in monolinguals, and not by CS. In Cyprus, on the other hand, where CS serves specific discourse functions, overall fluency was expected to be negatively affected by the more marked character of the alternation. Results reveal that CS has no significant effect on pausing in either context. Conversational motives, along with lexical, grammatical and processing issues, are the determining factors in bilingual, as well as monolingual, pausing. Despite the lack of difference found here between the two groups, we conclude that sociolinguistic and discourse variables should form an essential element in attempts to model bilingual speech production

Contact and code-switching

Book synopsis: Language contact is a dynamic area of contemporary linguistic research that studies how language changes when speakers of different languages interact. Accessibly structured into three sections, The Handbook of Language Contact explores the role of contact studies within the field of linguistics, the value of contact studies for language change research, and the relevance of language contact for sociolinguistics. This authoritative volume presents original findings and fresh research directions from an international team of prominent experts. Thirty-seven specially-commissioned chapters cover a broad range of topics and case studies of contact from around the world