Europe and the Politics of Language - Citizens, Migrants and Outsiders

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 trans-national 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.

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Reviews:

'...an outstanding contribution to the field of language policy and planning...This is a highly recommended book for graduate and upper-division undergraduate courses, written in a clear and very persuasive style that reflects Nic Craith's extensive knowledge of European realities and her long-term commitment to the idea of expanded human rights.' - Eva Yerendé, Language Policy '...an up-to-date, well-researched and well-expressed volume...dealing at length with traditionally ignored matters - nomads, contested languages, cross-border situations...These are new, European issues, and the book is excellent at identifying them.' - Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 'It shows how the study of language planning can offer a deeper understanding of social disparities in a broader sense and how a more intensive commitment to this field of research could make an important contribution to a more equitable and democratic Europe.' - Journal of Sociolinguistics 'Mairead Nic Craith takes readers on a vicarious European tour, one which includes an array of cultures and a cacophony of languages and is illuminating to the sociolinguistic issues that are found within the European Union.' - Education Review 'This is an ambitious book...Its focus is on Europe but its potential influence and contribution go much wider, as the politics of language is present everywhere.' - International Journal of Applied Linguistics

Acknowledgements List of Tables List of Maps List of Abbreviations Acknowledgements Series Editor's Preface PART 1: EUROPE: DISCOURSES OF INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION Conceptions of Europe Divergence and Divisions Inclusion/exclusion and Citizenship Conclusion PART 2: STATEHOOD, CITIZENSHIP AND LANGUAGE Community, Language and Citizenship Language and Statehood: A Case Study from the Balkans Citizenship and Language: The Baltic States Conclusion PART 3: THE EUROPEAN ELITES: OFFICIAL LANGUAGES IN THE EU Official, Working Languages Towards a Lingua Franca Citizens and their Languages Conclusion PART 4: 'A HIERARCHY OF LEGITIMACIES': MINORITY LANGUAGES Minority Languages and National Ideologies A Hierarchy of Minority Languages The Transnational Context Conclusion PART 5: LANGUAGES ACROSS BORDERS Ethnic Conflicts and State Boundaries Impediments to Cross-border Co-operation European Support for Transfrontier Co=operation Conclusion PART 6: THE QUEST FOR RECOGNITION: CONTESTED LANGUAGES Language, Boundary, Identity Language and Legitimacy The European Context Conclusion PART 7: NOMADS, LANGUAGE AND LAND Identities and Lifestyles The Significance of Language Land, Region and Space Conclusion PART 8: THE OUTSIDERS: NON-EUROPEAN LANGUAGES Immigrants in Europe Non-European Languages in Western Europe The Discourse of Autochthony Conclusion PART 9:EUROPE AND THE POLITICS OF BELONGING Europe and its Languages The Implications of Equality Revising Language Policies in Europe Conclusion Select Bibliography Index