Words and Worlds

World Languages Review

By (author) Fèlix Martí, Paul Ortega, Prof. Itziar Idiazabal, Prof. Andoni Barreña, Prof. Patxi Juaristi, Prof. Carme Junyent, Belen Uranga, Prof. Estibaliz Amorrortu

Publication date:

13 July 2005

Publisher

Multilingual Matters

Dimensions:

225x170mm
7x9"

ISBN-13: 9781853598272

World Languages Review aims to examine the sociolinguistic situation of the world: to describe the linguistic diversity that currently characterizes humanity, to evaluate trends towards linguistic uniformity, and to establish a set of guidelines or language planning measures that favour the weaker or more endangered linguistic communities, so that anyone engaged in language planning -government officials, institution leaders, researchers, and community members- can implement these measures.

Acknowledgements/ Prologue/ Introduction
1. Linguistic Communities
2. The Linguistic Heritage
3. The Official Status of Languages
4. The Use of Languages in the Administration
5. Language and Writing
6. Language and Education
7. Languages and the Media
8. Language and Religion
9. Transmission and Intergenerational Use of Language
10. Linguistic Attitudes
11. The Threats to Languages
12. The Future of Languages
Appendixes:
References
Web References
List of Informants
Subject Index
Index of Languages, Families and Varieties
Survey

This is a remarkably useful book, especially in terms of the breadth that it attempts to cover. This is a volume that could easily be used in a university course in sociolinguistics. It is clearly a volume worth reading and taking seriously.