Attitudes to Endangered Languages: Identities and Policies

Description

Language attitudes and ideologies are of key importance in assessing the chances of success of revitalisation efforts for endangered languages. However, few book-length studies relate attitudes to language policies, or address the changing attitudes of non-speakers and the motivations of members of language movements. Through a combination of ethnographic research and quantitative surveys, this book presents an in-depth study of revitalisation efforts for indigenous languages in three small islands round the British Isles. The author identifies and confronts key issues commonly faced by practitioners and researchers working in small language communities with little institutional support. This book explores the complex relationship of ideologies, identity and language-related beliefs and practices, and examines the implications of these factors for language revitalisation measures. Essential reading for researchers interested in language endangerment and revitalisation, sociolinguistics, linguistic anthropology and language policy and planning, as well as language planners and campaigners.

Julia Sallabank is Senior Lecturer in Language Support and Revitalisation in the Endangered Languages Academic Programme at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

'This important work should make us all think about the purpose and processes of language revitalisation, and the realities of language survival.' Adrian Cain, Manx Heritage Foundation 'Sallabank combines her usual brilliant scholarship with an insider perspective on the endangerment and revitalisation of Guernaise, her own heritage language. The book alternates between a macro-study of the issues in endangered language scholarship and the micro-study of the languages of Guernsey and two other islands under the British crown, Jersey and the Isle of Man ... A must-read for linguists working with endangered languages anywhere.' Leanne Hinton, Professor Emerita of Linguistics, University of California, Berkeley '... [the author's] insights made this book an invaluable tool for exploring language attitudes and ideologies, while addressing issues on how to 'save a language,' with a reference to what it means to the islanders and how it affects them in the first place.' Zuzana S. Elliott, The LINGUIST List (https://linguistlist.org)