Languages in a Globalising World

This book considers the effects of present-day trends in global politics on the relative status of languages.

Jacques Maurais (Edited by), Michael A. Morris (Edited by)

9780521821735, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 10 April 2003

364 pages, 4 b/w illus. 1 map 38 tables
23.6 x 15.8 x 2.8 cm, 0.704 kg

'… this book offers a valuable resource for the systematic study of language globalisation and the international challenges and issues it raises. Due to the scope of its coverage and the high quality of the discussion, this is a book that we simply cannot afford not having on our shelves if we are interested in any aspect of contemporary language changes …'. Journal of Sociolinguistics

Throughout human history, the fate of languages has been closely linked to political power relationships. Political shifts in the international system continue to affect linguistic patterns, which today are still in a state of flux following the end of the Cold War. This book considers the effects of present-day trends in global politics on the relative status of languages, and the directions in which the linguistic hierarchy might develop in the future. What are the prospects for the continuing spread of English? Will other traditionally prominent languages such as French and German gain or lose influence? Will languages such as Arabic and Japanese increase in international status? Will minority languages continue to lose ground and disappear? The book assesses these prospects, looking at the major world regions, and with its interdisciplinary approach it will appeal to researchers and students of sociolinguistics and language planning as well as of international relations.

1. Introduction Jacques Maurais and Michael A. Morris
Part I. Global Communication Challenges: 2. Toward a new global linguistic order? Jacques Maurais
3. The geostrategies of interlingualism Mark Fettes
4. Language policy and linguistic theory Douglas A. Kibbee
5. Babel and the market: geostrategies for minority languages Jean Laponce
6. Forecasting the fate of languages William F. Mackey
Part II. Major Areas: 7. Language geostrategy in Eastern and Central Europe: assessment and perspectives Ferenc Fodor and Sandrine Peluau
8. Languages and supranationality in Europe: the linguistic influence of the European Union Claude Truchot
9. Regional blocs as a barrier against English hegemony? The language policy of Mercosur in South America Rainer Enrique Hamel
10. Effects of North American integration on linguistic diversity Michael Morris
11. Sociolinguistic changes in transformed Central Asian societies Birgit N. Schlyter
12. Language and script in Japan and other East Asian countries: between insularity and technology Stefan Kaiser
13. Sub-Saharan Africa Roland Breton
14. Australasia and the South Pacific Richard B. Baldauf Jr. and Paulin G. Djité
Part III. Languages of Wider Communication: 15. The international status of the German language Ulrich Ammon
16. Arabic and the new technologies Foued Laroussi
17. Russian in the modern world Vida Io. Mikhalchenko and Yulia Trushkova
18. Geolinguistics, geopolitics, geostrategy: the case of French Robert Chaudenson
19. Toward a scientific geostrategy for English Grant McConnell
20. On Brazilian Portuguese in Latin American Integration Maria da Graça Krieger
21. Conclusion: the search for a global linguistic strategy Humphrey Tonkin.

Subject Areas: International relations [JPS], Sociolinguistics [CFB]