Language, Power and Identity Politics - (Palgrave Studies in Minority Languages and Communities) by Kenneth A Loparo (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Dominance, identity and resistance are key themes in this volume in which contributors examine language in global, virtual and local settings. Power is highly contextual and the chapters focus on concepts such as world languages, linguistic rights and minority protection. Migrants and their vernaculars feature prominently and several case studies explore the social strategies employed by speakers on non-indigenous tongues. Religion and belief are key underlying themes in the final chapters, which analyze the misunderstandings that can occur in sensitive political contexts.

Review Quotes

'...this edited collection provides a wealth of information and insights on the nature of conflicts (and potential conflicts) connected to language choice in public life, education and religion.' - Language Policy

'The contributions to this very interesting book succeed admirably in presenting and analyzing a wide variety of issues.' - Discourse Analysis

'The contributions to this very interesting book suceeds admirably in presenting and analyzing a wide variety of issues - mostly concerning Europe - looking into powerful languages such as Englis, minority languages such as Irish, and immigrant languages such as Chinese and Arabic. Each chapter includes an overview of the literature and offers attested examples, but beyond the intrinsic interest of the single essays the reader does appreciate the strong interconnection between them. The book is surprisingly unified, each chapter seems to anticipate the following, this the discussion on the various case studies turns out to be enjoyably readable and not fragmentary.' - Paola Attolino, The Linguist, Sep. 2008

About the Author

MARY DELARGY is a Research Associate for Ethnic Minorities, Academy for Irish Cultural Heritages, University of Ulster, UK JOHN DUNLOP is a Minister of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland REBECCA FONG is Senior Lecturer in English as a Foreign Language, University of the West of England, UK DIARMAIT MAC GIOLLA CHRÍOST is a Lecturer in the School of Welsh at Cardiff University, UK PHILIP MCDERMOTT is currently a Doctorate Student at the University of Ulster's Academy for Irish Cultural Heritages, UK ROBERT PHILLIPSON is Chair at the Faculty of Languages, Culture and Communication of Copenhagen Business School, Denmark JAVAID REHMAN is Chair in Law at Brunel University, UK JANE SAVILLE is Senior Lecturer in English as a Foreign Language and European Studies, University of the West of England, UK MARKUS WARASIN is currently working in the European Public Service as a Civil Servant in the Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs Directorate of the European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium