Multilingualism is everywhere in a globalized society. This book looks at its consequences, from the development of multilingual communities to language competition and variation. Edwards examines lingua francas, pidgins, creoles and artificial languages on the way to developing a snapshot of the social life of language. The book asks: How far a role does translation play in helping multilingualism to thrive? Are polyglots viewed with suspicion, given the links between language and identity? Is language maintenance and revival worth the effort? Can a language remain 'pure'? And if languages constantly shift, what does this say about identity?This compelling and beautifully written short introduction is required reading for all entry-level students of multilingualism, and a primer for language lovers in general.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2012-04-19
Mått:129 x 198 x 12 mm
Vikt:331 g
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Antal sidor:152
Förlag:Continuum Publishing Corporation
ISBN:9781441123480

Utforska kategorier

Språkvetenskap och lingvistik inom Språk och ordböcker

Mer om författaren

John Edwards lives in Nova Scotia, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He is the author of many books, and the editor of the Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development.

Recensioner i media

John Edwards has written a book about everything that happens when languages meet, a book about ‘the social life of language'. With his encyclopaedic knowledge he composed a small but complete encyclopedia of multilingualism that has an intriguing fact or an original insight on every page. Before readers realize that the subject-matter is complicated, they have already understood it, since Edwards wears his knowledge lightly and writes with apparent ease. A book for everyone who has to cope with diverse languages, that is, according to this book, nearly everyone.

Innehållsförteckning

Prologue; 1. The Diversity of Languages; 2. Interpreting Language Diversity; 3. Multilingual Abilities; 4. The Emergence and Measurement of Multilingualism; 5. The Consequences of Babel: Lingua Francas; 6. The Consequences of Babel: Translation; 7. Keeping Languages Pure; 8. Languages and Identities in Transition; 9. Endangered Languages and the Will to Survive; 10. Linguistic Intervention and the "New" Ecology of Language; Epilogue; Bibliography; Index.