Multilingualism: Understanding Linguistic Diversity

Description

Multilingualism is everywhere in our globalised society. Delving into the 'social life' of languages, John Edwards provides a brief yet compelling overview of multilingualism and its sociocultural implications and consequences. Covering major topics including language origins, language death, lingua francas, pidgins, creoles and artificial languages, this book provides a complete introduction to what happens when languages meet. A vital primer for anybody interested in multilingualism, this new edition has been refreshed and updated, expanding its coverage and adding new topics such as linguistic imperialism, minority languages, and folk linguistics. A brand new chapter on recent developments also covers the linguistic landscape, language planning, the 'new speaker' phenomenon and digital multilingualisms. Accessibly written in an engaging style which assumes no prior knowledge, this book is an essential introduction for anybody interested in multilingualism and language.

John Edwards is Senior Professor of Psychology at St Francis Xavier University, Canada.

"Divided into 10 chapters on themes such as language diversity, multilingualism, bridging means across languages, language survival and intervention, this is the most readable textbook I have ever come across... This seemingly light yet profoundly rich book, with its span across the entire language diversity scene, cannot fail to spark enthusiasm... Its apparent simplicity, clarity and colourful asides make it an unforgettable reading experience." -- Times Higher Education Supplement (of the first edition) This book is a timely, comprehensive, thought-provoking, and compelling critique of the scholarship on various aspects of multilingualism; well grounded in society and social interactions. It is made captivating by the witty and detached style of the author, who not only covers a wide body of interdisciplinary literature but also reports several empirical anecdotes from around the world to prove his points. -- Salikoko S. Mufwene, University of Chicago, USA In this revised edition of a much-loved book, John Edwards presents the history and the latest developments in multilingualism research in a clear and accessible manner. By pointing out that "languages are totems as well as tools", he demonstrates this unique ability to be powerfully succinct and memorable. -- Jean-Marc Dewaele, Birkbeck University of London, UK