New Geographies of Language: Language, Culture and Politics in Wales (Palgrave Studies in Minority Languages and Communities)

This book develops a novel approach to the study of language, bringing it into dialogue with the latest geographical concepts and concerns and provides a comprehensive account of the geography of Welsh language analysing policy development, language use, ability and shift. The authors examine in particular: the different ways in which languages can be mapped; how geographical insights can be used to develop understandings of language use; the value of assemblage theory as a way of interpreting the social, technical and spatial aspects of language policy development; and the geographies that characterise institutional engagements with languages. This book will set a research agenda for the geographical study of language, developing a conceptual framework that will offer fresh insights to researchers in the fields of Applied Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Minority Languages, Geolinguistics, and Public Policy. Rhys Jones is Professor of Human Geography at Aberystwyth University, UK Huw Lewis is Lecturer in International Politics at Aberystwyth University, UK.-- Provided by publisher Acknowledgements 6 Praise for New Geographies of Language 8 Contents 10 List of Figures 11 List of Tables 13 1 Introducing the Geographies of Language 14 1.1 Anglesey, Wales’ Energy Island 14 1.2 What’s ‘New’ in the New Geographies of Language? 21 1.2.1 Geography, Language and Languages 21 1.2.2 A New Agenda for the Geographies of Language 27 1.3 Structure of the Book 32 References 37 2 Charting the Geographies of Language 43 2.1 Introduction 43 2.2 Representations and Materialities 46 2.2.1 Language and Representation 46 2.2.2 Representation and Beyond 48 2.2.3 Language and Materiality 54 2.3 Spaces and Flows 57 2.3.1 Spacing Language 57 2.3.2 From a World of Spaces to a World of Flows? 61 2.3.3 Language Within Networked and Bounded Space 64 2.4 Languages, Contexts and Environments 66 2.4.1 Understanding the Behavioural Environment 67 2.4.2 Performance, Affect and Language Behaviour 70 2.4.3 Languages and Choice Architectures 73 2.5 Languages, Identities and Institutions 76 2.5.1 States and Languages 77 2.5.2 Languages Within the ‘Shadow State’ 82 2.5.3 Languages and Peopled Institutions 86 2.6 A Framework for the Geographic Study of Languages 89 References 92 3 Wales and the Welsh Language: Setting the Context 106 3.1 Introduction 106 3.2 Charting Changes in Welsh-Language Ability 108 3.2.1 The Welsh Language During the ‘long Nineteenth Century’ 108 3.2.2 The Twentieth Century 114 3.2.3 Into the Twenty-First Century 122 3.3 Moving Beyond Ability: Understanding Language Use in Wales 128 3.4 Language Revitalisation Efforts in Wales 135 3.4.1 Early Language Revitalisation Efforts 135 3.4.2 The Emergence of the ‘modern’ Welsh Language Movement 137 3.4.3 Language Policy and Planning in Post-devolution Wales 143 3.5 Conclusions 150 References 151 4 The Geographies of Language Ability 157 4.1 Introduction 157 4.2 Mapping the Welsh Language 162 4.3 Mapping, Language and Identity 175 4.4 Alternative Mappings of the Welsh Language 181 4.5 Conclusions 201 References 203 5 Making Sense of Language Use 210 5.1 Introduction 210 5.2 Understanding Welsh as a Community Language 218 5.2.1 Charting the Use of Welsh Within the ‘Community’ 218 5.2.2 A Community Language as a Normative Goal 224 5.2.3 The Community as a Space for Linguistic Interventions 230 5.3 Understanding and Influencing Linguistic Environments 234 5.3.1 Linguistic Behaviour and Public Policy in Wales 236 5.3.2 Understanding and Changing Linguistic Behaviours 241 5.4 Conclusions 256 References 258 6 The Geographies of Language Policy in Wales 266 6.1 Introduction 266 6.2 Assembling Cymraeg 2050 272 6.2.1 Cymraeg 2050: Setting the Scene 273 6.2.2 Cymraeg 2050: An Emergent Process 275 6.2.3 Cymraeg 2050: A Multi-Stranded Process 277 6.2.4 Cymraeg 2050: A Mobile Process 282 6.2.5 Cymraeg 2050: An International Process? 286 6.2.6 Cymraeg 2050: A Relational Process 292 6.2.7 Cymraeg 2050 and Materiality 296 6.2.8 Cymraeg 2050: A Contested Process 299 6.3 Conclusions 302 References 304 7 Languages and Institutional Geographies 309 7.1 Introduction 309 7.2 Educating a Linguistic Nation: The Geographies of the National Curriculum 313 7.3 ‘Mainstreaming’ the Welsh Language in the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act 325 7.4 The ‘Shadow State’ and the Welsh Language 337 7.5 Conclusions 348 References 351 8 Conclusions 358 8.1 Introduction 358 8.2 Taking Stock... 359 8.3 Implications for Research and Policy Work on Languages 364 8.4 Implications for Geography as a Discipline 367 8.5 Meanwhile, Back on the Energy Island of Anglesey... 369 References 371 Index 373 Front Matter ....Pages i-xiii Introducing the Geographies of Language (Rhys Jones, Huw Lewis)....Pages 1-29 Charting the Geographies of Language (Rhys Jones, Huw Lewis)....Pages 31-93 Wales and the Welsh Language: Setting the Context (Rhys Jones, Huw Lewis)....Pages 95-145 The Geographies of Language Ability (Rhys Jones, Huw Lewis)....Pages 147-199 Making Sense of Language Use (Rhys Jones, Huw Lewis)....Pages 201-256 The Geographies of Language Policy in Wales (Rhys Jones, Huw Lewis)....Pages 257-299 Languages and Institutional Geographies (Rhys Jones, Huw Lewis)....Pages 301-349 Conclusions (Rhys Jones, Huw Lewis)....Pages 351-365 Back Matter ....Pages 367-377 Rhys Jones, Huw Lewis. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.