Book Announcement (forthcoming)

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Elites, Language, and the Politics of Identity
The Norwegian Case in Comparative Perspective


Gregg Bucken-Knapp

SUNY series in National Identities


Summary


Uses Norway to test the claim that elites are central to the
politicization of linguistic conflict.

Why and when do linguistic cleavages within a nation become politicized?
Using Norwaywhere language has played a particularly salient role in the
nations historyas a case study, Gregg Bucken-Knapp explores these
questions and challenges the notion that the politicization of language
conflict is a response to language problems. He shows that political
elites often view language conflict as a political opportunity, placing it
on the policy agenda as an effective mobilizing tool to serve their own
nonlinguistic political ends.  Although language-oriented interest groups
may fight to achieve desired language policies, they are generally
unsuccessful when their preferences clash with the broader objectives of
political elites. This book focuses on understanding just how language
policies
 emerge.

"A fresh and original look at the Norwegian language situation with
comparison to other linguistic communities. It should be of interest not
only to scholars and students of Norwegian history and culture but also to
all those interested in the interrelationship of language, politics, and
society."  Solveig Zempel, editor and translator of In Their Own Words:
Letters from Norwegian Immigrants

"Bucken-Knapp's analysis of language politics provides many new insights,
opens up the field for new research, and contributes to our understanding
of the driving forces behind Norwegian language policy in its different
phases. A refreshing and needed renewal of the scientific treatment of the
internal Norwegian language struggle and official language planning
policy."  Lars S. Vikr, author of The Nordic Languages: Their Status and
Interrelations

Gregg Bucken-Knapp is Researcher in the Department of Political
Science at Gteborg University and the coeditor (with Michael Schack)
of Borders Matter: Transboundary Regions in Contemporary Europe.

 $18.95 Paperback - 193 pages Release Date: 3/7/2003 ISBN: 0-7914-5656-0