Journal article
Planning for the survival of linguistic diversity
- Abstract:
- The prospect of the loss of linguistic diversity on a large scale has prompted scholars such as Fishman and others to propose programs of intervention to 'reverse language shift' (RLS). RLS theories and efforts are byproducts of European indigenous minority problems, and the ideological bias of Fishman's model of RLS privileges intergenerational transmission in the context of stable diglossia. This article examines the ideological underpinnings and utility of this framework as an appropriate model for stabilizing and revitalizing indigenous languages. I question the assumptions and theoretical perspectives underlying terms such as RLS and reconceptualize what it might mean for a language to be maintained and survive without intergenerational mother tongue transmission. As an increasing number of communities around the world face the impending loss of their languages, it is imperative to clarify these issues not just for theory's sake, but in the interest of providing sound advice.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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- Files:
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(bin, 226.6KB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1007/s10993-006-9034-3
Authors
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Journal:
- Language Policy More from this journal
- Volume:
- 5
- Issue:
- 4
- Pages:
- 441-473
- Publication date:
- 2006-11-01
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1573-1863
- ISSN:
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1568-4555
- Language:
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English
- Keywords:
- Subjects:
- UUID:
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uuid:9fd6e0b2-74ea-46f3-858e-5025733fdc7f
- Local pid:
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ora:3506
- Deposit date:
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2010-03-15
- ARK identifier:
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Springer
- Copyright date:
- 2006
- Notes:
- Citation: Romaine, S. (2006). 'Planning for the survival of linguistic diversity', Language Policy, 5(4), 441-473. [The final publication is available at www.springerlink.com]. The article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial License, which allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works for non-commercial purposes from the material, as long as the author of the original work is cited. The commercial rights are protected by Springer.
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