Language revival: Restoration or transformation?

Bentahila, Abdelâli; Davies, Eirlys E.

doi:10.1080/01434632.1993.9994542

Cited by 78 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…3. For examples of this position within sociolinguistics, see Bentahila and Davies 1993;Brutt-Griffler, 2002;Coulmas, 1992;Edwards, 1984;Ladefoged, 1992. For examples within social and political theory, see Barry, 2000;Laitin and Reich, 2003;Pogge, 2003;Schlesinger, 1992.…”

Section: Notesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even if some level of collective consensus is reached about language, or indeed any other aspect of group life -and this in itself is no easy task -there will always be individuals who will choose to dissent from these conclusions, as MLR critics are quick to point out (see e.g. Bentahila & Davies, 1993;Edwards, 1985Edwards, , 1994. This common disjuncture between 'individual' and 'collective' aims immediately problematises the legitimacy of any claim to a group-based minority language right, whatever its social and political merits.…”

Section: Avoiding Essentialismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In other words, language does not define who people are, and may not be an important feature, or indeed even a necessary one, in the construction of their identities, whether at the individual or collective levels. This view has been put forward in sociolinguistics by, among others, Carol Eastman (1984) and John Edwards (1985Edwards ( , 1994, who have argued that language is often only a secondary or surface characteristic of ethnicity (see also Bentahila & Davies, 1993;Coulmas, 1992). The consequence of such a view is obvious -if language-use is merely a surface feature of ethnic identity, adopting another language would only affect the language use aspect of ethnic identity, not the identity itself.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Rearticulating the Case for Minority Language Rights

May¹

2003

Current Issues in Language Planning

141

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While advocacy of minority language rights (MLR) has become well established in sociolinguistics, language policy and planning and the wider human rights literature, it has also come under increased criticism in recent times for a number of key limitations. In this paper, I address directly three current key criticisms of the MLR movement. The first is a perceived tendency towards essentialism in articulations of language rights. The second is the apparent utopianism and artificiality of 'reversing language shift' in the face of wider social and political 'realities'. And the third is that the individual mobility of minority-language speakers is far better served by shifting to a majority language. While acknowledging the perspicacity of some of these arguments, I aim to rearticulate a defence of minority language rights that effectively addresses these key concerns. This requires, however, a sociohistorical/sociopolitical rather than a biological/ecological analysis of MLR. In addition, I will argue that a sociohistorical/sociopolitical defence of MLR can problematise the positions often adopted by minority language rights' critics themselves, particularly those who defend majoritarian forms of linguistic essentialism and those who sever the instrumental/identity aspects of language. Implications for language policy and planning will also be discussed.

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Section: Notesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Avoiding Essentialismmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rearticulating the Case for Minority Language Rights

May¹

2003

Current Issues in Language Planning

141

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“…This emanates from language management goals that aim to promote the use of the Celtic languages into the future. Echoing Romaine's (2006) and Bentahila and Davies' (1993) ideas, Hornsby (this issue) and Ó hIfearnáin (2015) have described how language management efforts in the Celtic languages have tended to focus on their social, cultural and linguistic restoration to pre-shift conditions. At the same time, the sociolinguistic transformation of the languages has been viewed with suspicion.…”

Section: What Is the Target Variety?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Support, transmission, education and target varieties in the Celtic languages: an overview

Murchadha

Migge

2017

Language, Culture and Curriculum

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“…As Bentahila and Davies (1993) argue, language revival necessarily results in transformation of the language (see also Jolly's (1995) discussion of this in the Australian context). Will the reclaimed language be accepted as an authentic form of the ancestral language, or will it be viewed as some kind of fabrication or artificial construct?…”

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confidence: 99%

Language Planning and Language Revival

Amery¹

2001

Current Issues in Language Planning

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This paper explores the interface between language planning and language revival, based on current efforts to reclaim and reintroduce Kaurna, the language of the Adelaide Plains. This language probably had not been used on a daily basis for the best part of 130 years, until recent efforts in the 1990s to revive it. Using written records, efforts are now being made to piece the language together and to develop a written and spoken language that addresses contemporary needs. Micro language planning is salient in the revival context. Indeed, language planning in this context typically involves individual learners and users of the language, small groups and very small organisations. This paper extends the vision of language planners to include languages hitherto regarded as 'dead' or 'extinct'. Language planning has as much to offer in these situations as it does for major world languages.

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Language revival: Restoration or transformation?

Cited by 78 publications

References 19 publications

Rearticulating the Case for Minority Language Rights

Rearticulating the Case for Minority Language Rights

Support, transmission, education and target varieties in the Celtic languages: an overview

Language Planning and Language Revival

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