Agency in the Peripheries of Language Revitalisation: Examining European Practices on the Ground

The book explores the issue of agency in minority language revitalisation in Europe, examining how grassroots actors shape revitalisation and negotiate historical factors, motivations, and institutionalised initiatives and policies. It provides insights into how social actors work within and against social conventions and strictures.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 14 May 2024
Publisher: Multilingual Matters

Agency in Minority Language Revitalisation in Europe: A Unique Focus
This book delves into the issue of agency in minority language revitalisation in Europe, presenting an ethnographic account of how language policy operates in various linguistic contexts. Each chapter explores how grassroots actors shape revitalisation and how individuals and groups navigate historical factors, motivations, and institutionalised initiatives and policies. The chapters cover both contexts where social actors have gained and exerted agency in their revitalisation efforts and contexts where issues of authority, authenticity, and lack of engagement plague efforts. By examining these cases, the book provides insights into how social actors work within and against social conventions and strictures.

The book is available Open Access under a CC BY ND License, making it accessible to a wide audience. It contributes to the growing body of research on minority language revitalisation and provides valuable insights for policymakers, language activists, and researchers.

Agency in Minority Language Revitalisation: An Ethnographic Perspective
This book takes an ethnographic approach to the issue of agency in minority language revitalisation in Europe. It examines how grassroots actors shape revitalisation and how individuals and groups navigate historical factors, motivations, and institutionalised initiatives and policies. The chapters cover a wide range of linguistic contexts, including minority languages in Europe, indigenous languages in North America, and endangered languages in Asia.

One of the key themes of the book is the role of social actors in revitalisation. Social actors include individuals, groups, and organisations that are involved in the revitalisation of minority languages. They can be local communities, language activists, government agencies, and international organisations. Social actors play a crucial role in shaping the direction and success of revitalisation efforts.

One of the challenges faced by social actors in revitalisation is the lack of resources. Many minority languages are spoken by small communities, and these communities may not have the financial resources to support language revitalisation efforts. This can lead to a lack of access to education, media, and other resources that are necessary for language maintenance and revitalisation.

Another challenge faced by social actors is the resistance of dominant languages. Dominant languages are often seen as more prestigious and valuable than minority languages, and this can lead to a lack of support for language revitalisation. This resistance can take many forms, including language policies that promote the use of dominant languages, discrimination against speakers of minority languages, and a lack of recognition of the cultural and linguistic heritage of minority communities.

Despite these challenges, social actors have been successful in revitalising minority languages in many parts of the world. One of the key strategies used by social actors is the promotion of language use. This can include the use of language in schools, the media, and other public spaces. Social actors can also work to create language-learning opportunities for children and adults.

Another strategy used by social actors is the preservation of language resources. This can include the documentation of language, the creation of language dictionaries, and the preservation of cultural heritage. Language resources are essential for the maintenance and revitalisation of minority languages.

In addition to these strategies, social actors can also work to build community support for language revitalisation. This can include the formation of language clubs, the organisation of language festivals, and the participation of community members in language-related activities. Community support is essential for the long-term success of revitalisation efforts.

Agency in Minority Language Revitalisation: Case Studies
The book includes a number of case studies that illustrate the role of agency in minority language revitalisation. These case studies include the revitalisation of the Basque language in Spain, the revitalisation of the Welsh language in Wales, and the revitalisation of the Sámi language in Norway.

The Basque language in Spain is a minority language that has been spoken in the Basque Country for over 1,000 years. The Basque language has been threatened by the dominance of Spanish, but social actors have been successful in revitalising the language. Social actors have worked to promote language use in schools, the media, and other public spaces, and they have also worked to preserve language resources.

The Welsh language in Wales is a minority language that has been spoken in Wales for over 1,000 years. The Welsh language has been threatened by the dominance of English, but social actors have been successful in revitalising the language. Social actors have worked to promote language use in schools, the media, and other public spaces, and they have also worked to preserve language resources.

The Sámi language in Norway is a minority language that has been spoken in Norway for over 1,000 years. The Sámi language has been threatened by the dominance of Norwegian, but social actors have been successful in revitalising the language. Social actors have worked to promote language use in schools, the media, and other public spaces, and they have also worked to preserve language resources.

Conclusion
This book provides a unique focus on the issue of agency in minority language revitalisation in Europe. It examines how grassroots actors shape revitalisation and how individuals and groups navigate historical factors, motivations, and institutionalised initiatives and policies. The book includes a number of case studies that illustrate the role of agency in minority language revitalisation, and it provides valuable insights for policymakers, language activists, and researchers. By making the book available Open Access under a CC BY ND License, the authors have made it accessible to a wide audience.

Weight: 306g
Dimension: 233 x 154 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800416253