Languages and Nationalism Instead of Empires

This volume explores the mechanisms of language creation, legitimization, maintenance, and destruction in the service of nation-states in Central Europe. It offers an interdisciplinary introduction to the rise of the ethnolinguistic nation-state during the past century, focusing on the postcommunist period and the effects of cyberspace and populism. It analyzes languages and their uses as constructs produced, changed, maintained, and abandoned by humans and their groups, contributing to the knowledge of the latest social and political history of the regions' languages.

Format: Hardback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive volume delves into the intricate mechanisms through which languages are crafted, legitimized, maintained, or eroded in the service of the existing nation-states across Central Europe. Through a series of chapters contributed by scholars from North America, Europe, and Asia, the book provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the emergence of the ethnolinguistic nation-state as the sole legitimate model of statehood in contemporary Central Europe over the past century. The collection's focal point lies in the last three decades, particularly the postcommunist period, considering the impact of the recent rise of cyberspace and the consequent radical manifestations of populism across modern Central Europe. By examining languages and theirusages not as predetermined by history, nature, or divinity but as human-made constructs that are produced, altered, sustained, and discarded, the volume makes a significant contribution to the body of knowledge regarding the latest social (sociolinguistic) and political history of the regions languages, encompassing their role within national polities and in the digital realm.

Languages and Nationalism Instead of Empires serves as an invaluable resource for historians, linguists, and political scholars engaged in research on Central and Eastern Europe. It offers a rich and multifaceted exploration of the complex dynamics that shape the evolution, preservation, and transformation of languages within the region. Through its multidisciplinary approach, the book provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the role of languages in constructing and maintaining national identities, as well as their significance in the digital age.

The volume begins by exploring the historical roots of the ethnolinguistic nation-state in Central Europe. It examines how the concept of national languages emerged as a tool for political and cultural identity formation, and how it has been perpetuated through policies, education, and media. The chapters shed light on the processes of language standardization, language planning, and language revitalization efforts, highlighting the challenges and complexities involved in preserving and promoting minority languages.

The book then turns its attention to the postcommunist period, a time of significant linguistic and political transformation. The chapters explore the effects of globalization, migration, and the rise of new technologies on language usage and identity in Central Europe. They examine how languages are used to construct and maintain national identities, as well as how they are adapted and transformed in response to the changing social and political landscape. The authors also consider the role of language in the emergence of populism and nationalism, highlighting the ways in which language can be used to promote or undermine social cohesion and stability.

In conclusion, Languages and Nationalism Instead of Empires is a groundbreaking work that offers a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the complex relationship between languages, nationalism, and statehood in Central Europe. It provides a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and policymakers seeking to understand the dynamics of language change and its implications for social, political, and cultural development in the region. By examining languages and theirusages not as given by history, nature, or deity but as constructs produced, changed, maintained, and abandoned by humans and their groups, the volume contributes significantly to the store of knowledge on the latest social (sociolinguistic) and political history of the regions languages, including their functioning in respective national polities and on the internet.

Weight: 690g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367471910