Language and Poverty

Edited by Wayne Harbert, Sally McConnell-Ginet, Amanda Miller, John Whitman

Publication date:

09 December 2008

Publisher

Multilingual Matters

Dimensions:

210x148mm
6x8"

ISBN-13: 9781847691187

This book explores the bidirectional relationship between language and poverty, from the perspectives of linguistics, language policy and planning, economics, anthropology, and sociology. On the one hand, poverty affects language survival; in modern times the fundamental determinants of language shift and language death are economic. On the other hand, the languages people speak, or don’t speak, can influence their economic status in substantial ways, limiting or facilitating access to jobs and education and full participation in the functions of the society. The issues encompassed by the twin themes of the volume have assumed growing significance in an era of increasing globalization and accelerating change in economies, technologies and traditional social structures. They are of practical concern to people in a wide range of disciplines and professions, including politicians, educators, social workers, language planners, and others who work and live in multilingual contexts.

Chapter 1. Introduction - Wayne Harbert, Sally McConnell-Ginet, Amanda Miller and John Whitman

Section I: Poverty as a Factor in Language Maintenance and Language Death

Chapter 2. Poverty as a Factor in Language Maintenance and Language Death: Some Case Studies from Africa - Herman Batibo

Chapter 3. Language Diversity and Poverty in Africa - Matthias Brenzinger

Section II: Language as a Determinant of Access to Resources

Chapter 4. The Impact of the Hegemony of English on Access to and Quality of Education with Special Reference to South Africa - Neville Alexander

Chapter 5. Econolinguistics in the USA - John Baugh

Chapter 6. Where in the World is US Spanish? - Ofelia Garcia and Leah Mason

Chapter 7. Perpetuating Inequality: Language Disadvantage and Capability Deprivation of Tribal Mother Tongue Speakers in India - Ajit Mohanty

Section III: Language and Poverty: A Cross-disciplinary Perspective

Chapter 8. Biodiversity, Linguistic Diversity and Poverty: Some Global Patterns and Missing Links - Suzanne Romaine

Chapter 9. Language and Poverty: Measurement, Determinants and Policy Responses - François Vaillancourt

Chapter 10. Losing their Names: Native Languages, Identity and the State - Peter Whiteley

Section IV: Language, Poverty and the Role of the Linguist

Chapter 11. The Role of the Linguist in Language Maintenance and Revitalization: Documentation, Training and Materials Development - Lenore Grenoble, Keren Rice and Norvin Richards

Chapter 12. Preserving Digital Language Materials: Some Considerations - Helen Aristar-Dry

Conclusion

This is a fascinating volume. As far as I know, it is the first comprehensive collection on this important subject. The authors are well known experts in their disciplines and are able to contribute numerous important insights on the complex interactions between language choices, material poverty and economic disruption.