Individual and Societal Individual and Societal Bilingualism Bilingualism

Individual Individual SocietalSocietal

Bilingualism Bilingualism BilingualismBilingualism

YesYes YesYes

YesYes NoNo

NoNo YesYes

NoNo NoNo

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Language and National Language and National Boundaries Boundaries

National National Minority Status in:Minority Status in:LanguageLanguage

GermanGerman Denmark, Belgium, France, Italy, Slovenia,Serbia, Denmark, Belgium, France, Italy, Slovenia,Serbia, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, HuRomania, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Hu

ngary, ngary, Czechia, PolandCzechia, Poland

TurkishTurkish Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania,Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania,Moldova, UkraineMoldova, Ukraine

GreekGreek Italy, Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine,TurkeyUkraine,Turkey

SwedishSwedish FinlandFinland Trudgill, Peter. 2000. Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society, 4th edition. London: Penguin Books, p. 121.

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Linguistic MinoritiesLinguistic Minorities

LanguageLanguage CountriesCountries

Sami (Lapp)Sami (Lapp) Norway, Sweden, Finland, RussiaNorway, Sweden, Finland, RussiaFrisianFrisian Germany, NetherlandsGermany, NetherlandsBasqueBasque Spain, FranceSpain, FranceCatalanCatalan Spain, FranceSpain, FranceBretonBreton FranceFranceSorbianSorbian GermanyGermanyKashubianKashubian PolandPolandWelshWelsh UKUKGaelicGaelic UKUK

Trudgill, Peter. 2000. Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society, 4th edition. London: Penguin Books, p. 122.

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Problems for Linguistic Minorities Problems for Linguistic Minorities

EducationEducation Mother tongue could be Mother tongue could be 1. proscribed1. proscribed 2. tolerated2. tolerated 3. promoted3. promoted

Political AccessPolitical Access May be unable to carry out transactions without interpreter or May be unable to carry out transactions without interpreter or bilingual civil servants bilingual civil servants VotingVoting Viewed with suspicion Viewed with suspicion

Economic Opportunities Economic Opportunities JobsJobs

Trudgill, Peter. 2000. Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society, 4th edition. London: Penguin Books, p. 123 ff.

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Languages and Nations Languages and Nations

UKUKIrelandIrelandSpainSpainMalaysiaMalaysiaNorwayNorwayUSUSCanadaCanadaSingaporeSingaporeIndia India

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UK Minority Languages 1 UK Minority Languages 1

Indigenous LanguagesIndigenous Languages Gaelic Gaelic Speakers: Speakers: 81,000 81,000 (in 1931)(in 1931)

1918 allowed in schools1918 allowed in schools 1958 more actively promoted1958 more actively promoted English at secondary levelEnglish at secondary level

Welsh Welsh Speakers:Speakers: 656,000 (in 1931 ?)656,000 (in 1931 ?)

1953 promote bilingual education in Wales1953 promote bilingual education in Wales Local autonomy to decideLocal autonomy to decide

Trudgill, Peter. 2000. Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society, 4th edition. London: Penguin Books, pp. 124-126.

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UK Minority Languages 2 UK Minority Languages 2

Non-Indigenous LanguagesNon-Indigenous Languages

PunjabiPunjabi

BengaliBengali

OtherOther

Trudgill, Peter. 2000. Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society, 4th edition. London: Penguin Books, pp. 124-126.

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The Norwegian National The Norwegian National Languages 1Languages 1

NynorskNynorsk Bokmål Bokmål‘‘new Norwegian’new Norwegian’ ‘book language’ ‘book language’forerunner: Landsmålforerunner: Landsmål forerunner: Riksmål (Dano-Norwegian) forerunner: Riksmål (Dano-Norwegian)like western dialectslike western dialects like eastern dialects like eastern dialectssome local presssome local press national press, most books national press, most bookspoetry, literature (rural)poetry, literature (rural)school: 20% childrenschool: 20% children school: most children school: most children

right-wing press: conservative formsright-wing press: conservative forms left-wing press: radical formsleft-wing press: radical forms

country name: Noreg country name: Noreg country name: Norge country name: Norge

Trudgill, Peter. 2000. Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society, 4th edition. London: Penguin Books, pp. 136-137.

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The Norwegian National The Norwegian National Languages 2Languages 2

NynorskNynorsk Bokmål BokmålBothBoth

all official documentsall official documents

children must learn bothchildren must learn both

radio / TV use both extensivelyradio / TV use both extensively

Trudgill, Peter. 2000. Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society, 4th edition. London: Penguin Books, pp. 136-137.

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India without English 1India without English 1

Eliminating English could have the following effectsEliminating English could have the following effects

1. Increased state, ethnic and linguistic loyalties leading to 1. Increased state, ethnic and linguistic loyalties leading to political fragmentationpolitical fragmentation

2. Indian languages do not have scientific and technological 2. Indian languages do not have scientific and technological tradition—vocabulary gaptradition—vocabulary gap

3. Using Indian languages for technology, commerce, industry 3. Using Indian languages for technology, commerce, industry would require massive amounts of translation—no way to keep would require massive amounts of translation—no way to keep upup

4. Only experts could do the translation and they should be 4. Only experts could do the translation and they should be doing the research insteaddoing the research instead

T.K. Dutt (1967), cited in Wolfson (1989), pp. 282-283

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India without English 2India without English 2

Effects of exclusive emphasis of regional languageEffects of exclusive emphasis of regional language

1. Not enough teaching materials available in regional languages1. Not enough teaching materials available in regional languages

2. Future jobs prospects fewer2. Future jobs prospects fewer

3. Going abroad to study more difficult3. Going abroad to study more difficult

4. Elite want to keep English to themselves4. Elite want to keep English to themselves

T.K. Dutt (1967), cited in Wolfson (1989), pp. 282-283

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The Power of Language The Power of Language

““Where language is a defining characteristic Where language is a defining characteristic (see p. 44) of a minority ethnic group wanting (see p. 44) of a minority ethnic group wanting independence, particularly where other (for independence, particularly where other (for example physical) characteristics are not example physical) characteristics are not significant (as in the case of Welsh), linguistic significant (as in the case of Welsh), linguistic factors are likely to play an important role in any factors are likely to play an important role in any separatist movement they might undertake.” separatist movement they might undertake.”

Trudgill, Peter. 2000. Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society, 4th edition. London: Penguin Books, p. 127.

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