20. Linguistic Imperialism and Endangered Languages
- Tej K. Bhatia,
- William C. Ritchie
Published Online: 3 OCT 2012
DOI: 10.1002/9781118332382.ch20
Copyright © 2013 Blackwell Publishing, Ltd
Book Title
The Handbook of Bilingualism and Multilingualism, Second Edition
Additional Information
How to Cite
Phillipson, R. and Skutnabb-Kangas, T. (2012) Linguistic Imperialism and Endangered Languages, in The Handbook of Bilingualism and Multilingualism, Second Edition (eds T. K. Bhatia and W. C. Ritchie), John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK. doi: 10.1002/9781118332382.ch20
Editor Information
Syracuse University, USA
Publication History
- Published Online: 3 OCT 2012
- Published Print: 7 NOV 2012
Book Series:
ISBN Information
Print ISBN: 9781444334906
Online ISBN: 9781118332382
- Summary
- Chapter
- References
Keywords:
- endangered languages;
- language dominance;
- language policies;
- linguistic imperialism;
- multilingualism
Summary
The study of linguistic imperialism focuses on how and why certain languages dominate internationally, and attempts to account for such dominance in a theoretically informed way. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s Interactive Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger divides the total of 2,581 endangered languages into five categories: vulnerable; definitely endangered; severely endangered; critically endangered; extinct. This chapter starts with the current state and future prospects of the world's endangered languages. Linguistic imperialism, past and present, and current neoimperialism are then analyzed, followed by a discussion of the approaches to language dominance and major challenges in research and action in relation to endangered languages. There is an urgent need for more socioculturally and linguistically appropriate language policies. Such policies are intended to promote multilingualism and combat linguistic misuse of languages.