Linguistic Diversity And Social Justice (an Introduction To Applied Sociolinguistics)

By (author) Piller Ingrid
Short description/annotation
This book explores how linguistic diversity mediates social justice in liberal democracies undergoing rapid change due to migration and globalization. Focusing on the linguistic dimensions of economic inequality, cultural domination and imparity of participation, Linguistic Diversity and Social Justice is a call to write language into the social justice agenda.
Description
Understanding and addressing linguistic disadvantage must be a central facet of the social justice agenda of our time. This book explores the ways in which linguistic diversity mediates social justice in liberal democracies undergoing rapid change due to high levels of migration and economic globalization. Focusing on the linguistic dimensions of economic inequality, cultural domination and imparity of political participation, Linguistic Diversity and Social Justice employs a case-study approach to real-world instances of linguistic injustice. Linguistic diversity is a universal characteristic of human language but linguistic diversity is rarely neutral; rather it is accompanied by linguistic stratification and linguistic subordination. Domains critical to social justice include employment, education, and community participation. The book offers a detailed examination of the connection between linguistic diversity and inequality in these specific contexts within nation states that are organized as liberal democracies. Inequalities exist not only between individuals and groups within a state but also between states. Therefore, the book also explores the role of linguistic diversity in global injustice with a particular focus on the spread of English as a global language. While much of the analysis in this book focuses on language as a means of exclusion, discrimination and disadvantage, the concluding chapter asks what the content of linguistic justice might be.
Table of contents
Acknowledgements1: IntroductionLinguistic diversitySocial justiceOverviewJoin the conversation2: Linguistic diversity and stratificationLanguage, multilingualism, linguistic diversityHierarchy in diversityLanguage pyramidsThe diversity of the OtherSeeing ''super-diversity''Inventing homogeneitySummary3: The subordination of linguistic diversityThe territorial principleLanguage segregationDebating the territorial principleLinguistic diversity and personal responsibilityGrassroots language learningJudging speakersLinguistic diversity and moral worthRemaking language learnersSummary4: Linguistic diversity at workLanguage proficiency as a barrier to employmentWhat''s in a name?Job interviewsMultiple vulnerabilitiesSurvival employment and deskillingLanguage learning on the jobSuppressing linguistic diversityAlternative language regimesSummary5: Linguistic diversity in educationThe monolingual habitus of multilingual schoolsSubmersion educationCompounding disadvantageTesting against linguistic diversityMisdiagnosing language proficiencyDenying the benefits of multilingualismSummary6: Linguistic diversity and participationLinguistic barriers to participationLanguage and the gender gapLinguistically-motivated violenceMicro-aggressionsLinguistic alienationSummary7: Linguistic diversity and global justiceLanguage and developmentInjustices of English language educationInjustices of English as global academic languagePaying tribute to the Anglophone centerPsychological damages of global EnglishSummary8: Linguistic justiceNormative linguistic justiceReal linguistic utopiasThe struggle for linguistic justiceReferences
Review quote
Linguistic Diversity and Social Justice is an absorbing selection of stories and voices from around the world, woven into an anthology that highlights the social consequences of a range of linguistic injustices ... it adds to existing literature on the multilingual turn by making connections across settings, communities, and cultures.
Review