book notice: Language As Commodity: Rubdy, Tan (Eds)

[Harold Schiffman]

Language As Commodity: Rubdy, Tan (Eds)


Title: Language As Commodity
Subtitle: Global Structures, Local Marketplaces
Published: 2008
Publisher: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd
                http://www.continuumbooks.com

Book URL: http://www.continuumbooks.com

Editor: Rani Rubdy
Editor: Peter Tan

Abstract:

Throughout human history, languages have been in competition with each
other. As the world becomes more globalized, this trend increases. It
affects the decision-making of those in positions of power and determines
macro language policies and planning. Often decisions about language (or
dialects or language variety) are related to usefulness - defined in terms
of their pragmatic and commercial currency or their value as symbols of
socio-cultural identity. Languages can be modes of entry into coveted
social hierarchies or strongholds of religious, historical, technological
and political power bases. Languages are seen now as commodities that carry
different values in an era of globalization.

This volume engages with language policies and positions in relation to the
roles and functions these languages adopt. It examines the 'value' of
languages, defined in terms of the power they have in the global
marketplace as much as within the complex matrices of the local
socio-politics. These valuations strongly underpin the various motivations
that influence policy-making decisions, and in turn, these motivations
create the tensions that characterize many language-related issues;
tensions that arise when languages become commodified.

http://linguistlist.org/issues/19/19-3542.html

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