Language policy and language planning : from nationalism to globalisation

This is a comprehensive advanced textbook covering not only language learning imposed by economic or political agendas but also language choices entered into freely for reasons of social mobililty, economic advantage or group identity. The first part of the book reviews the development and role of standard languages in the construction of national communities and identities. The second part examines the linguistic accomodation of groups in contact, major lingua francas and the case of "International English". The third section explores reactions to nationalism and globalization, with some attention to language rights. The book further deals with methodological problems of working in this interdisciplinary area, and provides detailed illustrations from a range of countries and communities.