scholarly journals ‘New speakers’ and language policy research: thematic and theoretical contributions to the field

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeroen Darquennes ◽  
Josep Soler
Keyword(s):  
Language Policy ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
New Speakers

scholarly journals Linguistic identity among new speakers of Basque

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 (231) ◽  
pp. 85-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ane Ortega ◽  
Jacqueline Urla ◽  
Estibaliz Amorrortu ◽  
Jone Goirigolzarri ◽  
Belen Uranga
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Language Policy ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Linguistic Identity ◽  
The Future ◽  
New Speakers ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Family Transmission

Abstract The increase in Basque speakers in the last 30 years has been due in large part to ‘new speakers’ or euskaldunberri, a term that will be used here to refer to those who have learned the language by means other than family transmission. While very significant in numbers, to date this group has not been the object of much study. Little is known about their attitudes and motivations, how they perceive themselves as Basque speakers, or their language use and transmission patterns. Acquiring answers to these questions is of strategic importance for developing an effective evidence-based language policy for the future. This article presents the results of a qualitative study of new speakers. Drawing on data from focus groups and interviews, the central goal of the article is to examine how new speakers of differing profiles perceive and locate themselves with respect to the popularly used labels for “new” and “native” Basque speakers and the ideologies of authenticity and legitimacy that seem to shape these perceptions. The analysis shows that learning the language alone, even to a high degree of competence, does not guarantee a view of themselves as true and genuine speakers of Basque.

scholarly journals New speakers of new and old languages: an investigation into the gap between language practices and language policy

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Spotti ◽  
Sjaak Kroon ◽  
Jinling Li
Keyword(s):  
Language Policy ◽  
Language Practices ◽  
New Speakers

scholarly journals Language policy and ‘new speakers’: an introduction to the thematic issue

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 467-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josep Soler ◽  
Jeroen Darquennes
Keyword(s):  
Language Policy ◽  
Thematic Issue ◽  
New Speakers

BAAL/CUP Seminar 2016: New plurilingual pathways for integration: Immigrants and language learning in the 21st century

2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-296
Author(s):  
Nicola Bermingham ◽  
Gwennan Higham
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Policy ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Round Table ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Round Table Discussion ◽  
Cost Action ◽  
Intercultural Studies ◽  
New Speakers ◽  
Intercultural Research

This seminar was held at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, on 27 May 2016. It was jointly organised by BAAL members Nicola Bermingham (Heriot-Watt University) and Gwennan Higham (Swansea University) in collaboration with COST Action IS1306 New Speakers in a Multilingual Europe: Opportunities and Challenges, and supported by the Intercultural Research Centre and the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies at Heriot-Watt University. Ten papers and two keynote speeches were given. The keynote speakers were Professor Alison Phipps (Glasgow University) and Professor Máiréad Nic Craith (Heriot-Watt University). A round-table discussion was also held, with invited speakers including Ms Mandy Watts from Education Scotland; Professor Bernadette O'Rourke, chair of COST Action IS1306; Dr Cassie Smith Christmas, University of the Highlands and Islands; and Dr Kathryn Jones, Director of Language Policy and Research at the Welsh Centre for Language Planning.

International Comparative Perspectives on Heritage Language Education Policy Research

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 42-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Bale
Keyword(s):  
Language Policy ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Heritage Language ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Heritage Language Learners ◽  
Heritage Language Education ◽  
Region I ◽  
International Comparative ◽  
Future Policy

As awareness of the unique abilities and needs of heritage language learners has grown, so too has recent research deepened our understanding of the dynamic between language policy and heritage language education (HLE). In this article, I review HLE policy research conducted in various international contexts. I begin by reviewing ongoing debates in the policy literature over definitions and adopt a broad understanding of the term so that we can glean as much insight as possible from the comparison of international contexts. I then turn to six international regions and countries that have been the focus of recent HLE policy research. Within each region, I apply the analytic framework proposed by Ricento and Hornberger (1996) to differentiate the multiple levels at which language policy functions. Finally, I identify common themes emerging across the research in these varied contexts and conclude with suggestions for future policy-oriented HLE research.

The porous borders of language and nation

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren R. Zentz
Keyword(s):  
Language Policy ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Language Policies ◽  
Linguistic Ideologies ◽  
Local Language ◽  
Central Java ◽  
Research Interviews

This analysis of language use and legislation in globalization highlights challenges to and crossings of the borders of Indonesian nationalist ideologies and local language ecologies. Through the specific workings of language and languaging in situ, here explored through three brief examples of language use and ideologies in Central Java, I analyze university English majors’ discussions of the local meaningfulness of English. The analysis demonstrates that institutional language policies are simultaneously subverted by and influential in local language hierarchies. The discussions analyzed come from the students’ written Sociolinguistics class assignments while I was their teacher and from research interviews that they participated in with me, both in which I ask participants about the borders of what can be defined as the English language, and the borders of linguistic ideologies and nationalism in contemporary Indonesia. With an intent stemming from the very origins of language policy research to generate ideas for how state apparatuses might better serve their constituents (Fishman, 1974), this information is essential for understanding the limitations and opportunities that states are instrumental in creating among their citizenries.

scholarly journals Remarks on the Diversity of Theoretical Perspectives in Language Policy Research

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandro Rodrigues Alves Diniz ◽  
Elias Ribeiro da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Language Policy ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Language Policies ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives

ABSTRACT In this article, which opens the second issue of Volume 19 of Revista Brasileira de Linguística Aplicada, we discuss some existing epistemological divergences in language policy research. In the first section, two lines of divergence will be outlined: (i) the focus on official versus de facto language policies; (ii) the conception of language policymakers versus subjects of language policies. In the second section, based on the analysis of titles of thematic issues, dossiers and books recently published in Brazil, we argue that this diversity of perspectives may be clearly noticed in the research carried out in the country. We finish our text highlighting some issues that have gained strength in the Brazilian research agenda.

scholarly journals Language Policy in Multilingual Workplaces:  Management, Practices and Beliefs in Banks in Luxembourg.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Leilarna Elizabeth Kingsley
Keyword(s):  
Language Policy ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Policy Management ◽  
Language Practices ◽  
Language Management ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Speech Communities ◽  
International Banks

<p>For decades the primary focus of language policy research has been activities by states and their agencies, while language policy activities in workplaces have attracted little attention. Addressing this gap, explicit and implicit dimensions of language policies are investigated in financial institutions operating in the globalised context of international banking in multilingual Luxembourg. Three complementary theoretical frameworks are used to extend language policy research to include not just explicit aspects of language policy (language policy statements), but also implicit aspects (the language practices and beliefs of a community). Spolsky's (2004) theory is used to identify and analyse three components of language policy (management, practices and beliefs); Language Management Theory (LMT) (Jernudd and Neustupny, 1987) is used to explore one specific component of language policy (management), and Shohamy's (2006) framework is used to explore the complex interaction between management, practices and beliefs. The data base for the study comprised two phases: the first phase involved interviews with managers in ten Luxembourg banks regarding language policy, followed in the second phase by questionnaires and focus-group discussions with employees from three case study banks regarding language use and beliefs. This empirical data suggests that even in banks where English has been formalised as the working language, multilingual mechanisms (recruitment and language courses) contribute to employees' practices effectively creating, a top-down multilingual implicit (de facto) policy. The data from international banks in Luxembourg suggests that a flexible approach to language management is useful in workplaces where communication is complex, multi-faceted and dynamic. The bottom-up perspective indicates that employees at international banks use English as a lingua franca (ELF) alongside other languages, negotiating language choice across speech communities and linguistic repertoires, for transactional and relational purposes. These multilingual employees highly value English as the most common language in banks for including and involving all, highlighting its vital role in banks. Because the data provides a strong argument for the consideration of both top down and bottom up perspectives, the results have theoretical significance for our understanding of language policy. Overall, this thesis provides insights into the complex nature of language policy in multilingual workplaces, including the importance of both top-down and bottom-up pressures on language practices, the crucial role of ELF and the relevance of attitudes towards ELF and other languages at local and global levels of management.</p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document