E-Book Overview
The subject of this book is linguistic minorities, and how language is used by speakers of languages which are not the main language of communication. This is a core topic for sociolinguists, who examine how language is actually used within a given context. Globalization, migration, and the erosion of nationhood is creating far more linguistic minorities as society becomes increasingly pluralistic. One of the major sites of contact between languages is the school, and this book focuses on linguistic interaction within this educational context. Through a careful examination of the language practices in the daily life of a school, Monica Heller explores issues such as changing language policy, bilingualism, identity, power, ideology and gender from the point of view of the minority speaker. In so doing she provdies a fresh new insight into this important area of sociolinguistics. Linguistic Minorities and Modernity is written in an accessible and lively narrative style, and uses real-life examples and case studies to illustrate the discussions. The text has been revised throughout, and includes a new introduction by the author. The book is suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate students of sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology.
E-Book Content
Linguistic Minorities and Modernity Advances in Sociolinguistics Series Editor: Professor Sally Johnson, University of Leeds Since the emergence of sociolinguistics as a new field of enquiry in the 1960s, research into the relationship between language and society has advanced almost beyond recognition. In particular, the past decade has witnessed the considerable influence of theories drawn from outside of sociolinguistics itself. Thus rather than see language as a mere reflection of society, recent work has been increasingly inspired by ideas drawn from social, cultural and political theories that have emphasized the constitutive role played by language/discourse in all areas of social life. This, in turn, has meant that the boundaries between sociolinguistics and other domains of study concerned with the role of language in society such as (critical) discourse analysis, pragmatics, stylistics, literacy studies and many areas of language pedagogy are being blurred if not eroded. Advances in Sociolinguistics aims to provide researchers and advanced students with a series of volumes on both core and developing areas of sociolinguistics approached from a diverse range of cutting-edge, critical perspectives. In all cases the books aim to advance the field of sociolinguistics through their critical thinking and insight. Forthcoming titles in the series: Language, Society and Identity Philip Riley Language and Power Andrea Mayr Discourses of Endangerment Edited by Monica Heller and Alexandre Duchêne A Critical Approach to Sociolinguistics Sally Johnson and Tommaso M. Milani Multilingualism A Critical Perspective Adrian Blackledge Sociolinguistics of the Media Helen Kelly-Holmes Linguistic Minorities ana Modernity A Sociolinguistic Ethnography Second Edition By Monica Heller continuum Continuum The Tower Building 11 York Road London SEl 7NX 80 Maiden Lane Suite 704 New York NY 10038 © Monica Heller 2006 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers. Monica Heller has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN: HB: 0-8264-8690-8 PB: 0-8264-8691-6 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog reco