Rethinking Language Policy - by Bernard Spolsky

About the Book

Drawing on four decades of research, Bernard Spolsky presents an updated theory of language policy that starts with the individual speaker instead of the nation.

Book Synopsis

Drawing on four decades of research, Bernard Spolsky presents an updated theory of language policy that starts with the individual speaker instead of the nation. In this book, he surveys the language practices, beliefs, and planning efforts of individuals, families, public and private institutions, local and national activists, advocates and managers, and nations. He examines the diversity of linguistic repertoires and the multiplicity of forces, linguistic and non-linguistic, which account for language shift and maintenance. By starting with the individual speaker and moving through the various levels and domains, Spolsky shows the many different policies with which a national government must compete and illustrates why national policy is so difficult. A definitive guide to the field, this is essential reading for policy makers, stakeholders, researchers, and students of language policy.

From the Back Cover

'Breathtaking in scope, Rethinking Language Policy offers a world tour of language policy by a scholar whose work has defined the field. Demonstrating that language policy depends on many non-linguistic factors, Professor Spolsky leads readers from the individual, to the familial, to the myriad institutional forces that shape language policy, illustrating it all with case examples through time and across every region of the globe. Timely, fascinating, and highly accessible, this unparalleled comparative account reveals language policy as practices, beliefs, and management mediated by relations of power.' Teresa L. McCarty, GF Kneller Chair in Education and Anthropology, University of California Rethinks the presentation of a theory of language policy and management by starting with the individual speaker rather than the nation Drawing on four decades of research, Bernard Spolsky reflects on earlier models that he proposed and presents an updated theory of language policy that starts with the individual speaker instead of the nation. In this book, he surveys the language practices, beliefs and planning efforts of individuals, families, public and private institutions, local and national activists, advocates and managers, and nations. He examines the diversity of linguistic repertoires and the multiplicity of forces, linguistic and non-linguistic, which account for language shift and maintenance. By starting with the individual speaker and moving through the various levels and domains, Spolsky shows the many different policies with which a national government must compete and illustrates why national policy is so difficult. A definitive guide to the field, with a rich description of examples, this is essential reading for policymakers, stakeholders, researchers, and students of language policy. Key Features - Written by a world-leading expert in the field of language policy and management - Draws on a range of examples and case studies, including examples of threatened indigenous and minority languages throughout the world - Surveys the language practices, beliefs and planning efforts of families, education systems, neighbourhoods and the workplace, public institutions, local and national activists, advocates and managers, and nations Bernard Spolsky is Professor Emeritus in the English Department at Bar-Ilan University, Israel. Cover image: Big Fish Eat Little Fish, Pieter van der Heyden, 1557. Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Review Quotes

Breathtaking in scope, Rethinking Language Policy offers a world tour of language policy by a scholar whose work has defined the field. Demonstrating that language policy depends on many non-linguistic factors, Professor Spolsky leads readers from the individual, to the familial, to the myriad institutional forces that shape language policy, illustrating it all with case examples through time and across every region of the globe. Timely, fascinating, and highly accessible, this unparalleled comparative account reveals language policy as practices, beliefs, and management mediated by relations of power.-- "Teresa L. McCarty, GF Kneller Chair in Education and Anthropology, University of California"

This book is an invaluable reference to lanugage policy research and a must-read for anyone who has interest in the field.--Yalan Wang "Language Policy"

About the Author

Bernard Spolsky was Professor Emeritus in the Department of English Literature and Linguistics, Bar-Ilan University, Israel