Democratic Policies for Language Revitalisation: The Case of Catalan (Palgrave Studies in Minority Languages and Communities)

Who cares about the future of their language? How can the decay of linguistic diversity around the world be stopped, or even reversed? Can medium-sized language communities counter homogenizing forces: political subordination, immigration, globalization? The Catalan-speaking territories show that democratic language planning is feasible and can raise group self-esteem. The main Catalan-speaking communities in Spain (Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands) have regional parliaments that have enacted broadly similar legislation; nevertheless, using a comparative approach, the book also highlights striking differences between regional policies. It concentrates on the regionalised system defined in Spain's 1978 Constitution following decades of political repression. It provides the historical and sociolinguistic information that linguists and political scientists need to understand complex relationships: between language planning and policy, on one hand, and stereotypes, attitudes and political will, on the other. Leading academics have worked together to provide a critical appraisal of these policies and their success, thus filling a gap in the English-language literature on the subject. "A collection of studies offering an up-to-date analysis of official policies to promote Catalan in a democratic framework in each of the main Spanish regions where it is spoken: Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands." A collection of studies offering an up-to-date analysis of official policies to promote Catalan in a democratic framework in each of the main Spanish regions where it is spoken: Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands. Who cares about the future of their language? How can the decay of linguistic diversity around the world be stopped, or even reversed? Can medium-sized language communities counter homogenizing forces: political subordination, immigration, globalization? The Catalan-speaking territories show that democratic language planning is feasible and can raise group self-esteem. The main Catalan-speaking communities in Spain (Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands) have regional parliaments that have enacted broadly similar legislation; nevertheless, using a comparative approach, the book also highlights striking differences between regional policies. It concentrates on the regionalised system defined in Spain's 1978 Constitution following decades of political repression. It provides the historical and sociolinguistic information that linguists and political scientists need to understand complex relationships: between language planning and policy, on one hand, and stereotypes, attitudes and political will, on the other. Leading academics have worked together to provide a critical appraisal of these policies and their success, thus filling a gap in the English-language literature on the subject "Beginning with a critique of the concept of Europe, this book explores the political context for current language policy. Social and political status within the European Union can bring significant benefits for speakers of national or official languages. While speakers of minority and contested languages have derived considerable benefits from the transnational context, many are less than happy with the hierarchical structure of EU language policy. This book focuses on languages spoken in Europe by Europeans and non-Europeans alike. The author explores key questions such as the impact of political boundaries on the concept of language and the significance of language for citizenship in Eastern Europe in particular. It assesses the quest for recognition and legitimacy among speakers of minority and contested languages and queries the non-recognition of migrant, non-European languages. The book adopts an interdisciplinary approach from a social science perspective and advocates an alternative approach to language policy."--Jacket Machine generated contents note: Acknowledgements Introduction; E.Boix & M.Strubell La Catalanofonia: A Community in Search of Linguistic Normality; M.A.Pradilla-Cardona The Legal Systems of the Catalan Language; J.Vernet & E.Pons Policies Governing the Use of Languages in Relations Between the Authorities and the Public; I.Mari; Language in Education Policies; F.X.Vila i Moreno Policies Promoting the Use of Catalan in Oral Communications and to Improve Attitudes Towards the Language; E.Boix, J.Melià & B.Montoya Language Policies in the Public Media and the Promotion of Catalan in the Private Media, Arts and Information Technologies; J.Gifreu Language Policy in the World of Business and Consumer Affairs: From Non-Existence to Ineffectiveness; J.Melià An Overview of Catalan Research into Language Policy and Planning; E.Heiderpriem-Olazábal Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-16 La Catalanofonia. A Community in Search of Linguistic Normality....Pages 17-56 The Legal Systems of the Catalan Language....Pages 57-83 Policies Governing the Use of Languages in Relations between the Authorities and the Public....Pages 84-118 Language-in-Education Policy....Pages 119-149 Policies Promoting the Use of Catalan in Oral Communications and to Improve Attitudes towards the Language....Pages 150-181 Language Policies in the Public Media and the Promotion of Catalan in the Private Media, Arts and Information Technologies....Pages 182-200 Language Policy in the World of Business and Consumer Affairs: from Non-Existence to Ineffectiveness....Pages 201-223 An Overview of Catalan Research into Language Policy and Planning....Pages 224-246 Back Matter....Pages 247-254 The author presents a new approach to the study of language policy, by focusing on language policy formation and implementation as a dynamic, conflict-laden process involving the interaction of various actors with different motivations and uneven bargaining powers, rather than as a product , examinable post hoc from existing language legislation.