Naslov
The Paradox of Multilingualism: ''Hierarchy in Equality''

Autori
Granić, Jagoda

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in Space and Time: Conference Program & Book of Abstracts / Lah, Josip ; Iveković Martinis, Anja - Zagreb : Hrvatsko andragoško društvo (HAD), 2014, 47-47

ISBN
978-953-7467-10-4

Skup
3rd LINEE+ Conference: Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in Space and Time

Mjesto i datum
Dubrovnik, Hrvatska, 28.04.2014. - 30.04.2014

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
multilingual context; hierarchy; equality; assimilation; ghettoization; European Union

Sažetak
Almost all milieus are in reality multilingual, showing that no language can completely prevail in all domains and discourses of public communication. Language diversity in the same space takes on varying forms at different times. Languages, alongside their other changes, change their status depending on many nonlinguistic parameters. History has shown that a new government or fresh victors arriving can result in a shift in language policy, so that a majority language becomes minority just because of loss of power by the community it belonged to. For the majority to avoid the scenario of being locked into their own single language and into the communicational and symbolic space that goes with it, they would do best to gain competence in some additional language. Modern European language policy continues to advocate "unity in diversity", but this motto remains in the sphere of virtual language policy. The real language policy takes on a paradoxical form, whose new motto could be "hierarchy in equality". The national languages as exponents of their national policies on a higher level find themselves placed in a ranking. The lower-ranked ones are subordinate on the national level, which means they have become minority languages, while those of higher rank become doubly majority languages – both on a national and on a supranational level. Even apart from the question of the strongest, most widespread and most used languages vis-à-vis the "lesser used languages", the fact is, as analysis of bi-/multi-lingualism policy in the member states of the European Union shows, that many of the Union's languages are treated differently by the member states' language policies. Some members promote multilingualism on all levels – local, regional, national, supranational – whereas others limit it to the local and/or regional level, while strengthening their national language on the basis of their Constitutions. The hierarchy among majority languages depends first and foremost on numerous extralinguistic factors (particularly the politics and the economic strength of their communities), and is compatible with their communicational range, frequency of use in public communication, and number of speakers. There is of course also a hierarchy among minority languages with respect to the rights they enjoy, with allochthonous languages (those from outside the country) being marginalized in comparison to autochthonous ones. If a minority learns the majority language not only for pragmatic communicational reasons but to show their loyalty to the country they live in, they are on the right path to avoid the "Scylla of assimilation" and the "Charybdis of ghettoization" and to choose a compromise "third way", that of integration. Integration presumes inclusion, but without loss of cultural and linguistic identity. This satisfies both sides, avoids conflicts and intolerance, permits co-existence, and thwarts monolingual ethnocentrism which gives way to multicultural and multilingual tolerance. Hence, if the majority supports multilingualism on a basis of equality, it will be desirable to all. If not, hierarchy appears within the self-proclaimed equality, which is the paradox of multilingualism.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Filologija

Napomena
LINEE = Languages In a Network of European Excellence

POVEZANOST RADA