Politics and the Law of Babel

2001 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Laponce
Keyword(s):  
Regional Level ◽  
Minority Languages ◽  
World Language ◽  
Language System ◽  
The World ◽  
Protective Strategy ◽  
The Law ◽  
Multilingual Societies

The world language system is profoundly affected by the increase in the frequency and density of communication on a world scale. Most of the languages spoken today are not expected to survive the century and most of those surviving will lose or fail to get control of some higher functions of communication, notably in the fields of commerce and science. The minority languages best able to resist the pressure of more powerful competitors are those having a government as their champion, and their best overall protective strategy remains territorialization, either within the boundaries of a unilingual state or, in the case of multilingual societies, on the territorial model of Switzerland and Belgium that juxtaposes rather than mixes languages at the regional level.

scholarly journals The Meanings and Structural Forms of the Measure Word for Nouns in Chinese and Vietnamese

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Quoc Hung Le Pham
Keyword(s):  
Syntactic Structure ◽  
Research Topic ◽  
World Language ◽  
Language System ◽  
Language Research ◽  
The World ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Measure Word

In the field of language research, the measure word is an interesting research topic. In the world language, some languages have measure words, some languages have not. Both Chinese and Vietnamese belong to the language rich in measure words, but due to the differences in language system, cognition and cultural color, there are some differences in the expression of their syntactic structure of the measure word for noun. This study starts from the comparison of Chinese and Vietnamese languages, focusing on the meaning and structure of the measure word for noun commonly used in Chinese and Vietnamese, in order to find the similarities and differences between them.

A Political Sociology of the World Language System (1)

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abram de Swaan
Keyword(s):  
Political Sociology ◽  
World Language ◽  
Language System ◽  
Sociologie Politique ◽  
The World ◽  
System 1 ◽  
Premiere Partie

RESUME Une sociologie politique du constellation linguistique mondial (I): Les dynamiques de l'expansion linguistique Cet article paraîtra en deux parties, dont la deuxième dans LPLP 22/2. Dans la première partie nous brosserons tout d'abord un tableau de l'évolution récente du système linguistique mondial. Dans la section suivante, nous présenterons un indice du potentiel de communication (valeur Q) d'une langue au sein de cette constellation. La troisième section caractérise les langues comme des biens collectifs qui, en plus, produisent des "effets de réseau externe", deux propriétés qu'elles partagent avec des normes industrielles et d'autres réseaux de communication non-exclusifs: tous des "biens hypercollectifs". Le capital culturel collectif d'un groupe linguistique se compose de la totalité de textes accumulés, rendus accessibles à travers cette langue, et possède, lui, les mêmes propriétés hypercollectives. RESUMO Politika sociologio de la monda lingvosistemo (1): La dinamikoj de lingva disvastigo Tiu ĉi unua el du eroj, la dua el kiuj aperos en LPLP 22/2, komencigas per sekcio donanta largan skemon de la evoluanta monda lingvosistemo. La sekva sekcio enkondukas indekson por la komunika potencialo (Q-valoro) de lingvoj ene de tiu ci konstelacio. La tria sekcio identigas lingvojn kiel kolektivajn varojn kiuj ankaŭ elmontras "eksterajn ret-efikojn", ecojn kiujn ili dividas kun normoj kaj ne-ekskludeblaj komunikaj retoj: "hiperkolektivaj varoj". La kolektiva kultura kapitalo de lingvogrupo konsistas el la sumo de akumulitaj tekstoj alireblaj en la lingvo kaj portas la samajn hiperkolektivajn ecojn.

scholarly journals Language, Power and Success: Bestselling Translations in the Dutch CPNB Top 100 archief

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Valentin
Keyword(s):  
Dutch Book ◽  
Book Market ◽  
Bestseller List ◽  
World Language ◽  
Language System ◽  
The World ◽  
Clear Majority

AbstractThis paper investigates origins, original languages and authors of bestselling translations on the annual Dutch Top 100 bestseller list. Considering the first fifty entries on the lists from the period between 1997 and 2019, the study aims to determine the Dutch position within the World Language System. The results show that about half of all the books surveyed are translations. These come from fifteen different source languages, although a clear majority are translations from English (73.2%). The analysis confirms the notion of a World Language System with central, semi-peripheral and peripheral languages and places Dutch among the peripheral languages. Furthermore, the study reveals strong globalisation and commercialisation tendencies in the Dutch book market.

A Political Sociology of the World Language System (2)

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abram de Swaan
Keyword(s):  
Political Sociology ◽  
World Language ◽  
Language System ◽  
Sociologie Politique ◽  
Action Collective ◽  
The World ◽  
System 2 ◽  
Langue Maternelle

RESUME Une sociologie politique du constellation linguistique mondial (2): L'Inégalité des échanges de textes La deuxième partie évoque le dilemme que rencontrent les auteurs (et tous les autres fournisseurs de produits culturels langagiers) qui doivent choisir entre s'addresser à un public relativement restreint dans leur langue maternelle, ou tâcher de conquérir un public plus nombreux soit par l'apprentissage de la langue plus répandue, soit par la traduction de leurs écrits dans la même langue. La première section traite la question de l'échange libre ou plutôt restreint de textes dans la perspective du groupe doté d'une langue de valeur Q faible, et dans celle d'un groupe avec une langue d'une valeur Q élevée. La seconde section évoque ce qui advient lorsque les auteurs et les lecteurs l'un après l'autre passent d'une petite langue indigène à une grande langue externe: dans certaines conditions une ruée vers la plus grande langue se produira, necessitant une action collective pour sauvegarder la langue plus petite et maintenir l'accès à son capital culturel accumulé. RESUMO Politika sociologio de la monda lingvosistemo (2): La malegaleco de tekstointerŝanĝado Tiu ĉi dua el du partoj diskutas la dilemojn kiuj alfrontas aŭtorojn (kaj aliajn liverantojn de lingvodependaj kulturaj produktoj) kiuj de vas decidi ĉu turni sin al relative limigita legantaro en sia denaska lingvo, au konkurenci celé al multe pli granda publiko, ĉu lernante la pli vaste disvastigitan lingvon, chu dépendante de tradukoj. La unua sekcio estas dediĉita al la demando pri libera aŭ limigita interŝanĝado de tekstoj de la perspektivo de kaj la grupo kun lingvo kun malalta Q-valoro, kaj la grupo kun lingvo kun alta Q-valoro. La sekva sekcio diskutas kio okazas kiam pli kaj pli aŭtoroj kaj legantoj ŝanĝas de malgranda indiĝena lingvo al granda deekstera lingvo: en iuj kondiĉoj okazas amaskurego al la pli granda lingvo, kaj kolektiva agado eble necesas por konservi la pli malgrandan lingvon kaj reteni la alireblon de ĝia akumulita kultura kapitalo.

scholarly journals The Effects of a Linguistic Tsunami on the Languages of Aceh

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zulfadli A. Aziz ◽  
Robert Amery
Keyword(s):  
Language Shift ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
Minority Languages ◽  
Language Loss ◽  
World Language ◽  
World Languages ◽  
Early Warning Signs ◽  
The World ◽  
Regional Languages

The languages throughout the world are in crisis and it is estimated that 50% to 90% will have disappeared by the end of this century (Grenoble, 2012). Colonisation, nationalism, urbanisation and globalisation have resulted in a linguistic tsunami being unleashed, with a few major world languages swamping others. The rate of language loss today is unprecedented as this small number of dominant languages expands rapidly. Small minority languages are mainly in danger, but even large regional languages, such as Acehnese with millions of speakers, are unsafe. Similar to the case of a tsunami triggered by an earthquake, it is generally too late before speakers are aware of what is happening. In most cases language shift will have already progressed and irreversible before people realize it. This paper examines the early warning signs of impending language shift and what can be done for minority languages to have the best chance of survival. We draw on the local situation in Aceh, as well as other parts of the Austronesian speaking world and Australia, where the record of language loss is the worst in the world. Language shift in Australia is well-progressed; in Indonesia it is more recent. Lessons learned from places such as Australia and Taiwan have relevance for Indonesia today.

The New Terrain of International Law

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen J. Alter
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Domestic Politics ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
The Political ◽  
International Courts ◽  
Constitutional Review ◽  
Delegation Of Authority ◽  
The World ◽  
The Law

In 1989, when the Cold War ended, there were six permanent international courts. Today there are more than two dozen that have collectively issued over thirty-seven thousand binding legal rulings. This book charts the developments and trends in the creation and role of international courts, and explains how the delegation of authority to international judicial institutions influences global and domestic politics. The book presents an in-depth look at the scope and powers of international courts operating around the world. Focusing on dispute resolution, enforcement, administrative review, and constitutional review, the book argues that international courts alter politics by providing legal, symbolic, and leverage resources that shift the political balance in favor of domestic and international actors who prefer policies more consistent with international law objectives. International courts name violations of the law and perhaps specify remedies. The book explains how this limited power—the power to speak the law—translates into political influence, and it considers eighteen case studies, showing how international courts change state behavior. The case studies, spanning issue areas and regions of the world, collectively elucidate the political factors that often intervene to limit whether or not international courts are invoked and whether international judges dare to demand significant changes in state practices.

New and not so new strategies in promoting integrity with particular reference to Africa

2018 ◽  
pp. 38-74
Author(s):  
Barry Rider
Keyword(s):  
World Economy ◽  
Intelligence Community ◽  
Generational Change ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
The World ◽  
The Will ◽  
The Law ◽  
Financial Intelligence ◽  
New Strategies

This article is focused on exploration not merely proposed developments in and refinements of the law and its administration, but the very significant role that financial intelligence can and should play in protecting our societies. It is the contention of the author that the intelligence community at large and in particular financial intelligence units have an important role to play in protecting our economies and ensuring confidence is maintained in our financial institutions and markets. In this article the author considers a number of issues pertinent to the advancement of integrity and in particular the interdiction of corruption to some degree from the perspective of Africa. The potential for Africa as a player in the world economy is enormous. So far, the ambiguous inheritance of rapacious empires and the turmoil of self-dealing elites in post-colonial times has successfully obscured and undermined this potential. Indeed, such has been the mismanagement, selfishness and importuning that many have grave doubts as to the ability of many states to achieve an ordered transition to what they could and should be. South Africa is perhaps the best example of a society that while avoiding the catastrophe that its recent past predicted, remains racked by corruption and mismanagement. That there is the will in many parts of the continent to further stability and security by addressing the cancer of corruption, the reality is that few have remained or been allowed to remain steadfast in their mission and all have been frustrated by political self-interest and lack of resources. The key might be education and inter-generational change as it has been in other parts of the world, but only an optimist would see this coming any time soon – there is too much vested interest inside and outside Africa in keeping things much as they are! The author focuses not so much on attempting to perfect the letter of the law, but rather on improving the ways in which we administer it.

Consciousness, law of nature, and nomological determinism

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyang Yu
Keyword(s):  
Free Will ◽  
Important Thing ◽  
Law Of Nature ◽  
The World ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Brain

Nomological determinism does not mean everything is predictable. It just means everything follows the law of nature. And the most important thing Is that the brain and consciousness follow the law of nature. In other words, there is no free will. Without life, brain and consciousness, the world follows law of nature, that is clear. The life and brain are also part of nature, and they follow the law of nature. This is due to scientific findings. There are not enough scientific findings for consciousness yet. But I think that the consciousness is a nature phenomenon, and it also follows the law of nature.

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