Janny H.C. Leung
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- March 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780190210335
- eISBN:
- 9780190210359
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190210335.003.0003
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Sociolinguistics / Anthropological Linguistics
Having explored how official multilingualism has emerged as a product of historical and sociopolitical development, this chapter moves on to survey the extent of the phenomenon in the contemporary ...
More
Having explored how official multilingualism has emerged as a product of historical and sociopolitical development, this chapter moves on to survey the extent of the phenomenon in the contemporary world. The data set offers a panoramic view of jurisdictions around the world that are officially bilingual or multilingual. Although there is not enough room to provide a detailed history of any particular jurisdiction, the chapter annotates the data and makes a number of generalized observations. The global data provide a sense of scale that speaks for itself and allow one to observe patterns and trends that help make sense of the phenomenon. Although linguistic demographics and the ideology of linguistic nationalism have a role to play, they are insufficient to explain the data. Official multilingualism is largely a post-colonial legacy, but there is also an emergent trend that official language policy responds to market forces under late capitalism.Less
Having explored how official multilingualism has emerged as a product of historical and sociopolitical development, this chapter moves on to survey the extent of the phenomenon in the contemporary world. The data set offers a panoramic view of jurisdictions around the world that are officially bilingual or multilingual. Although there is not enough room to provide a detailed history of any particular jurisdiction, the chapter annotates the data and makes a number of generalized observations. The global data provide a sense of scale that speaks for itself and allow one to observe patterns and trends that help make sense of the phenomenon. Although linguistic demographics and the ideology of linguistic nationalism have a role to play, they are insufficient to explain the data. Official multilingualism is largely a post-colonial legacy, but there is also an emergent trend that official language policy responds to market forces under late capitalism.
Andy Kirkpatrick
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9789888028795
- eISBN:
- 9789882206922
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Hong Kong University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5790/hongkong/9789888028795.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Sociolinguistics / Anthropological Linguistics
The lingua franca role of English, coupled with its status as the official language of ASEAN, has important implications for language policy and language education. These include the relationship ...
More
The lingua franca role of English, coupled with its status as the official language of ASEAN, has important implications for language policy and language education. These include the relationship between English, the respective national languages of ASEAN, and thousands of local languages. How can the demand for English be balanced against the need for people to acquire their national language and mother tongue? While many will also need a regional lingua franca, they are learning English as the first foreign language from primary school in all ASEAN countries. Might not this early introduction of English threaten local languages and children's ability to learn? Or can English be introduced and taught in such a way that it can complement local languages rather than replace them? The aim of this book is to explore questions such as these and then make recommendations on language policy and language education for regional policymakers.Less
The lingua franca role of English, coupled with its status as the official language of ASEAN, has important implications for language policy and language education. These include the relationship between English, the respective national languages of ASEAN, and thousands of local languages. How can the demand for English be balanced against the need for people to acquire their national language and mother tongue? While many will also need a regional lingua franca, they are learning English as the first foreign language from primary school in all ASEAN countries. Might not this early introduction of English threaten local languages and children's ability to learn? Or can English be introduced and taught in such a way that it can complement local languages rather than replace them? The aim of this book is to explore questions such as these and then make recommendations on language policy and language education for regional policymakers.
Robert D. Greenberg
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199208753
- eISBN:
- 9780191717673
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199208753.003.0004
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics
This chapter analyses the complex language situation in Montenegro, focusing on the dialects and literary traditions, the debates surrounding the official language of Montenegro, and the ...
More
This chapter analyses the complex language situation in Montenegro, focusing on the dialects and literary traditions, the debates surrounding the official language of Montenegro, and the characteristics of a separate Montenegrin language. The sociolinguistics of dialect geography and the literary traditions in Montenegro are described. The chapter also discusses the features of Montenegro's two factions, the neo-Vukovites and Nikcevic and his supporters. The merits of a proposed standard, including its new letters and new pronunciations and the expansion of ijekavian features, are shown. The future path of the Montenegrin language remains uncertain, and it is still unclear if and to what extent it will be accepted outside Montenegro's borders.Less
This chapter analyses the complex language situation in Montenegro, focusing on the dialects and literary traditions, the debates surrounding the official language of Montenegro, and the characteristics of a separate Montenegrin language. The sociolinguistics of dialect geography and the literary traditions in Montenegro are described. The chapter also discusses the features of Montenegro's two factions, the neo-Vukovites and Nikcevic and his supporters. The merits of a proposed standard, including its new letters and new pronunciations and the expansion of ijekavian features, are shown. The future path of the Montenegrin language remains uncertain, and it is still unclear if and to what extent it will be accepted outside Montenegro's borders.
Janny H.C. Leung
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- March 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780190210335
- eISBN:
- 9780190210359
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190210335.003.0004
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Sociolinguistics / Anthropological Linguistics
This chapter spells out major sociopolitical forces that have contributed to the widespread adoption of official multilingualism, and offers an explanation of how official multilingualism works ...
More
This chapter spells out major sociopolitical forces that have contributed to the widespread adoption of official multilingualism, and offers an explanation of how official multilingualism works through law. Jurisdictions that adopt multilingual law are primarily driven by pragmatic rather than normative forces. Official language law can perform a plethora of instrumental functions because such law works chiefly through its symbolic power. This discursive reading of law is contrary to the dominant, positivist view of law as command of a sovereign backed by force. Although symbolism is sometimes defined in opposition to what is real or substantive, law that works through symbolism is not necessarily empty in content or limited in impact. In fact, its semiotic flexibility has allowed it to be used to pursue a wide range of instrumental goals, which consist mostly of political and economic capital.Less
This chapter spells out major sociopolitical forces that have contributed to the widespread adoption of official multilingualism, and offers an explanation of how official multilingualism works through law. Jurisdictions that adopt multilingual law are primarily driven by pragmatic rather than normative forces. Official language law can perform a plethora of instrumental functions because such law works chiefly through its symbolic power. This discursive reading of law is contrary to the dominant, positivist view of law as command of a sovereign backed by force. Although symbolism is sometimes defined in opposition to what is real or substantive, law that works through symbolism is not necessarily empty in content or limited in impact. In fact, its semiotic flexibility has allowed it to be used to pursue a wide range of instrumental goals, which consist mostly of political and economic capital.
C.J.W. Baaij
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- March 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780190680787
- eISBN:
- 9780190680817
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190680787.003.0003
- Subject:
- Law, Philosophy of Law
The first step in evaluating and proposing an alternative to current EU Translation is determining which language version is and should be the original text and thus the “source text” for translation ...
More
The first step in evaluating and proposing an alternative to current EU Translation is determining which language version is and should be the original text and thus the “source text” for translation into the other language versions. Notwithstanding the rules and rhetoric of EU’s Institutional Multilingualism, English is in reality the language that participants in the EU legislative process use primarily to draft and debate EU legislation. Analogously, the Court of Justice of the EU appears to give more weight to a small number of widely used languages when interpreting EU legislation, particularly the English language version. Europe’s cultural diversity and EU’s democratic legitimacy demand that EU Institutions acknowledge this reality and accept English as the institutional and pan-European lingua franca. Moreover, they ought to formally recognize the English language version as the original and sole authentic legislative text, and thus as the source text in EU Translation.Less
The first step in evaluating and proposing an alternative to current EU Translation is determining which language version is and should be the original text and thus the “source text” for translation into the other language versions. Notwithstanding the rules and rhetoric of EU’s Institutional Multilingualism, English is in reality the language that participants in the EU legislative process use primarily to draft and debate EU legislation. Analogously, the Court of Justice of the EU appears to give more weight to a small number of widely used languages when interpreting EU legislation, particularly the English language version. Europe’s cultural diversity and EU’s democratic legitimacy demand that EU Institutions acknowledge this reality and accept English as the institutional and pan-European lingua franca. Moreover, they ought to formally recognize the English language version as the original and sole authentic legislative text, and thus as the source text in EU Translation.
Maxime Leblanc Desgagné and François Vaillancourt
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- May 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780262034708
- eISBN:
- 9780262335980
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262034708.003.0005
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
The chapter is divided in three parts. The first describes the history of the main elements of the federal language policies then turns to the aggregate costs and benefits of the federal official ...
More
The chapter is divided in three parts. The first describes the history of the main elements of the federal language policies then turns to the aggregate costs and benefits of the federal official language policy. The second presents the methodology used to allocate the benefits of the availability of French language services and their tax costs to households. The third presents the distribution for the population divided into ten deciles (income based) of the benefits and tax costs of OLA services linked to transfers to individuals and other services. The results combine information for 2001 and 2006 given the availability of data.Less
The chapter is divided in three parts. The first describes the history of the main elements of the federal language policies then turns to the aggregate costs and benefits of the federal official language policy. The second presents the methodology used to allocate the benefits of the availability of French language services and their tax costs to households. The third presents the distribution for the population divided into ten deciles (income based) of the benefits and tax costs of OLA services linked to transfers to individuals and other services. The results combine information for 2001 and 2006 given the availability of data.
Kees Camfferman and Stephen A. Zeff
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199296293
- eISBN:
- 9780191700767
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199296293.003.0004
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Finance, Accounting, and Banking
This chapter discusses the organization of operations and early evolution of the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC), paying attention to its structure, the leadership, the ...
More
This chapter discusses the organization of operations and early evolution of the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC), paying attention to its structure, the leadership, the composition of the delegations, and its finances. The initial structure of the IASC was determined by the 1973 Agreement and Constitution. The Constitution was modified in 1977 and 1982, on the occasions of the international congresses of accountants in Munich and Mexico City, respectively. Reference is made to the impact of these constitutional changes. The 1982 Constitution was accompanied by a Mutual Commitments pact between the IASC and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), which contained several important provisions bearing on the organization of the IASC.Less
This chapter discusses the organization of operations and early evolution of the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC), paying attention to its structure, the leadership, the composition of the delegations, and its finances. The initial structure of the IASC was determined by the 1973 Agreement and Constitution. The Constitution was modified in 1977 and 1982, on the occasions of the international congresses of accountants in Munich and Mexico City, respectively. Reference is made to the impact of these constitutional changes. The 1982 Constitution was accompanied by a Mutual Commitments pact between the IASC and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), which contained several important provisions bearing on the organization of the IASC.
Camelia Suleiman
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- January 2018
- ISBN:
- 9781474420860
- eISBN:
- 9781474435666
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Edinburgh University Press
- DOI:
- 10.3366/edinburgh/9781474420860.003.0004
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Sociolinguistics / Anthropological Linguistics
This chapter discusses the difficult position of the Arabic language from the point of view of the ‘volatile conditions’ of Arab citizenship in Israel. Azmi Bishara’s political career is a good ...
More
This chapter discusses the difficult position of the Arabic language from the point of view of the ‘volatile conditions’ of Arab citizenship in Israel. Azmi Bishara’s political career is a good example of the limits of citizenship for the Arabs in Israel. The chapter also discusses the meaning of ‘official’ languages, the role of language academies, the language arrangement in bilingual schools, and lastly the new imagined nationality of ‘Aramean’ and its genealogical connection to Aramaic. This new identity is in line with the state’s continuous attempts to fracture the Palestinian community in Israel, but at the same time it is drawing inspiration from the fragmentation of Arab communities in surrounding states such as Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.Less
This chapter discusses the difficult position of the Arabic language from the point of view of the ‘volatile conditions’ of Arab citizenship in Israel. Azmi Bishara’s political career is a good example of the limits of citizenship for the Arabs in Israel. The chapter also discusses the meaning of ‘official’ languages, the role of language academies, the language arrangement in bilingual schools, and lastly the new imagined nationality of ‘Aramean’ and its genealogical connection to Aramaic. This new identity is in line with the state’s continuous attempts to fracture the Palestinian community in Israel, but at the same time it is drawing inspiration from the fragmentation of Arab communities in surrounding states such as Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.
Janny H.C. Leung
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- March 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780190210335
- eISBN:
- 9780190210359
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190210335.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Sociolinguistics / Anthropological Linguistics
This book offers a critical perspective to the proliferation of official multilingualism in the contemporary world. Through diachronic and synchronic comparisons, it shows that official ...
More
This book offers a critical perspective to the proliferation of official multilingualism in the contemporary world. Through diachronic and synchronic comparisons, it shows that official multilingualism has become a norm in the political management of linguistic diversity, but actual practices vary according to sociohistorical contexts and current power dynamics. It explains such convergences and divergences using a theory of symbolic jurisprudence, which posits that official language law has served chiefly as a discursive resource for a range of political and economic functions, such as ensuring stability, establishing legitimacy, balancing rival powers, and harnessing trade opportunities. The book goes on to examine the practical impact of official multilingualism on public institutions and legal processes and the application of linguistic equality—frequently asserted in multilingual polities—on the ground. The study shows that serious pursuit of linguistic equality calls for elaborate administrative effort in public institutions and carries a potential to clash with existing legal practices (from legal drafting and interpretation, to language rights in trial proceedings). However, such changes—however extensive—hardly ever disrupt the status quo. The book further argues that linguistic equality as proclaimed and practiced in many polities today is shallow in character, and must not be confused with popular conceptions of equality. The book concludes that both symbolic jurisprudence and shallow equality are components of a policy of strategic pluralism that underlies official multilingualism. Although official multilingualism can legitimately be used to pursue collective goals, it runs the underlying risks of disguising substantive inequalities and displacing more progressive efforts in social change.Less
This book offers a critical perspective to the proliferation of official multilingualism in the contemporary world. Through diachronic and synchronic comparisons, it shows that official multilingualism has become a norm in the political management of linguistic diversity, but actual practices vary according to sociohistorical contexts and current power dynamics. It explains such convergences and divergences using a theory of symbolic jurisprudence, which posits that official language law has served chiefly as a discursive resource for a range of political and economic functions, such as ensuring stability, establishing legitimacy, balancing rival powers, and harnessing trade opportunities. The book goes on to examine the practical impact of official multilingualism on public institutions and legal processes and the application of linguistic equality—frequently asserted in multilingual polities—on the ground. The study shows that serious pursuit of linguistic equality calls for elaborate administrative effort in public institutions and carries a potential to clash with existing legal practices (from legal drafting and interpretation, to language rights in trial proceedings). However, such changes—however extensive—hardly ever disrupt the status quo. The book further argues that linguistic equality as proclaimed and practiced in many polities today is shallow in character, and must not be confused with popular conceptions of equality. The book concludes that both symbolic jurisprudence and shallow equality are components of a policy of strategic pluralism that underlies official multilingualism. Although official multilingualism can legitimately be used to pursue collective goals, it runs the underlying risks of disguising substantive inequalities and displacing more progressive efforts in social change.
Camelia Suleiman
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- January 2018
- ISBN:
- 9781474420860
- eISBN:
- 9781474435666
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Edinburgh University Press
- DOI:
- 10.3366/edinburgh/9781474420860.003.0008
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Sociolinguistics / Anthropological Linguistics
Palestinian poet laureate, Mahmoud Darwish writes that land is inherited like language. Most accounts of Arabs in Israel focus on the lost inheritance of Arab lands. This book investigates the ...
More
Palestinian poet laureate, Mahmoud Darwish writes that land is inherited like language. Most accounts of Arabs in Israel focus on the lost inheritance of Arab lands. This book investigates the problematic place of the Arabic language in Israel. While Arabic is an official language of Israel, according to a law which goes back to the year 1922, during the British Mandate, it is at the same time the language of the ‘Arab’ enemies surrounding and infiltrating Israel, the language of the Palestinians who remained in Israel after 1948 and who constitute today about 20 per cent of the total population, and also the language of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It is, moreover, the language of a dwindling number of speakers from the Mizrachi Jewish community. How are these seemingly contradictory positions of Arabic resolved, and what space is given to Arabic in the state? That is what this book is trying to answer.Less
Palestinian poet laureate, Mahmoud Darwish writes that land is inherited like language. Most accounts of Arabs in Israel focus on the lost inheritance of Arab lands. This book investigates the problematic place of the Arabic language in Israel. While Arabic is an official language of Israel, according to a law which goes back to the year 1922, during the British Mandate, it is at the same time the language of the ‘Arab’ enemies surrounding and infiltrating Israel, the language of the Palestinians who remained in Israel after 1948 and who constitute today about 20 per cent of the total population, and also the language of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It is, moreover, the language of a dwindling number of speakers from the Mizrachi Jewish community. How are these seemingly contradictory positions of Arabic resolved, and what space is given to Arabic in the state? That is what this book is trying to answer.
Neilesh Bose
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- April 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780198097280
- eISBN:
- 9780199082933
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198097280.003.0006
- Subject:
- History, Indian History
This chapter shows the diversity of interpretations of the concept of Pakistan as discussed and debated by Bengalis, from 1944, through and including the political changes of 1947. Through an ...
More
This chapter shows the diversity of interpretations of the concept of Pakistan as discussed and debated by Bengalis, from 1944, through and including the political changes of 1947. Through an analysis of literary and cultural institutions established by the new state, it investigates how the ideals behind Pakistan were interpreted in the new world of nation-states in the new context of East Pakistan. It also contrasts the continuity of literary cultures in the new state of Pakistan with the political upheaval and contravention of the ideals of the Pakistan concept that occurred in the initial years of the new post-colonial state. The analysis ends at 1952 with the inauguration of the ‘language movement’, a political movement to establish recognition of Bengali as an official language of Pakistan.Less
This chapter shows the diversity of interpretations of the concept of Pakistan as discussed and debated by Bengalis, from 1944, through and including the political changes of 1947. Through an analysis of literary and cultural institutions established by the new state, it investigates how the ideals behind Pakistan were interpreted in the new world of nation-states in the new context of East Pakistan. It also contrasts the continuity of literary cultures in the new state of Pakistan with the political upheaval and contravention of the ideals of the Pakistan concept that occurred in the initial years of the new post-colonial state. The analysis ends at 1952 with the inauguration of the ‘language movement’, a political movement to establish recognition of Bengali as an official language of Pakistan.
Florian Coulmas
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780198736523
- eISBN:
- 9780191818646
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198736523.003.0020
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Sociolinguistics / Anthropological Linguistics, Historical Linguistics
Léopold Sédar Senghor grew up in French West Africa, studied in France, became a French citizen, and, against his will, the first President of an independent Senegal. He embodied the tensions and ...
More
Léopold Sédar Senghor grew up in French West Africa, studied in France, became a French citizen, and, against his will, the first President of an independent Senegal. He embodied the tensions and contradictions of decolonization, especially in regard to language policy. In France, he was a member of the Negritude movement to promote recognition of African languages and culture, and in Senegal he became a founding member of Francophonie to promote French as the language of universal civilization. He made French Senegal’s official language, while designating some major indigenous languages as national languages. This chapter explains how the vagaries of his biography shaped his ideas about language and the language policy of his country.Less
Léopold Sédar Senghor grew up in French West Africa, studied in France, became a French citizen, and, against his will, the first President of an independent Senegal. He embodied the tensions and contradictions of decolonization, especially in regard to language policy. In France, he was a member of the Negritude movement to promote recognition of African languages and culture, and in Senegal he became a founding member of Francophonie to promote French as the language of universal civilization. He made French Senegal’s official language, while designating some major indigenous languages as national languages. This chapter explains how the vagaries of his biography shaped his ideas about language and the language policy of his country.
