Article In: Language Problems and Language Planning: Online-First Articles
Linguistic integration and linguistic justice in a multilingual world
On the benefits of a normative language policy approach
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Abstract
This article invites mainstream language policy research to discover the
potential of normative political theory to help stimulate new thinking on matters of
linguistic justice, specifically in the context of the linguistic integration of newcomers
in a multilingual world. Further developing the “normative language policy” framework,
devised to bridge empirical research in sociolinguistics and applied linguistics and
ethical debates in normative political theory, it examines three key questions: (i) To
what extent should host societies’ language policymaking take the interests of newcomers
into account?; (ii) How might the demands of linguistic integration be reconciled with
efforts to protect and promote established minority or minoritised languages?; and (iii)
Is there a legitimate role to be played by English as a lingua franca (ELF) to facilitate
integration in non-anglophone contexts? Aiming to foster the development of shared
epistemologies related to language, power and ethics, the article makes the case for a new
interdisciplinarity in language policy research, with a view to offering a constructive,
practical and principled pathway for devising more just language policies in integration
contexts and beyond.
Résumé
Intégration linguistique et justice linguistique dans un monde
multilingue: Sur les apports d’une approche dite « politique linguistique
normative
Cet article invite la recherche conventionnelle sur les politiques
linguistiques à découvrir le potentiel de la théorie politique normative pour stimuler une
nouvelle réflexion sur les questions de justice linguistique, en particulier dans le
contexte de l’intégration linguistique des nouveaux arrivants dans un monde multilingue.
En approfondissant le cadre de la « politique linguistique normative », conçu pour faire
le lien entre la recherche empirique en sociolinguistique et en linguistique appliquée et
les débats éthiques de la théorie politique normative, l’article examine trois questions
clés : (i) Dans quelle mesure les politiques linguistiques des sociétés d’accueil
devraient-elles prendre en compte les intérêts des nouveaux arrivants ? ; (ii) Comment
concilier les exigences de l’intégration linguistique avec les efforts visant à protéger
et à promouvoir les langues minoritaires ou minorisées établies ? ; et (iii) L’anglais, en
tant que lingua franca (ELF), a-t-il un rôle légitime à jouer pour faciliter l’intégration
dans des contextes non anglophones ? Visant à favoriser le développement d’épistémologies
partagées autour des questions de langue, de pouvoir et d’éthique, l’article plaide en
faveur d’une nouvelle interdisciplinarité dans la recherche sur les politiques
linguistiques, afin de proposer une voie constructive, pratique et fondée sur des
principes pour élaborer des politiques linguistiques plus justes dans des contextes
d’intégration et au-delà.
Resumo
Lingva integrado kaj lingva justeco en multlingva mondo: Pri la avantaĝoj de normiga lingvopolitika aliro
Tiu ĉi artikolo invitas la ĉefan esploradon pri lingva politiko
malkovri la potencialon de normiga politika teorio por helpi stimuli novan pensadon pri
aferoj de lingva justeco, specife en la kunteksto de la lingva integriĝo de novalvenintoj
en multlingva mondo. Pluevoluigante la kadron de “normiga lingva politiko”, ellaboritan
por ponti empirian esploradon en sociolingvistiko kaj aplikata lingvistiko kaj etikajn
debatojn en normiga politika teorio, ĝi ekzamenas tri ĉefajn demandojn: (i) Kiomgrade la
lingvopolitiko de gastigantaj socioj devus konsideri la interesojn de novalvenintoj? (ii)
Kiel oni povus akordigi la postulojn de lingva integrado kun klopodoj por protekti kaj
antaŭenigi establitajn minoritatajn aŭ minoritatigitajn lingvojn?; kaj (iii) Ĉu ekzistas
prava rolo por la angla kiel lingvafrankao (English as a lingua franca, ELF) por faciligi
integriĝon en neanglalingvaj kuntekstoj? Celante antaŭenigi la disvolviĝon de komunaj
epistemologioj rilataj al lingvo, potenco kaj etiko, la artikolo argumentas por nova
interdisciplineco en lingvopolitika esplorado, kun la celo proponi konstrueman, praktikan
kaj principan vojon por ellabori pli justajn lingvajn politikojn en kuntekstoj de
integrado kaj pretere.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- Normative language policy
- Insight from normative political theory
- Insight from sociolinguistics and applied linguistics
- Considering the interests of newcomers in language policymaking
- Linguistic integration in minority or minoritised language contexts
- The role of English as a lingua franca (ELF)
- Conclusion
- Acknowledgements
- Disclosure statement
- Notes
References
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