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Endangering Multilingualism

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Dangerous Multilingualism

Part of the book series: Language and Globalization ((LAGL))

Abstract

To the extent that every science has its banner and rallying cry, multilingualism would be that of sociolinguistics. In the face of a widespread societal dismissal, degradation, denial or abnormalization of multilingualism, sociolinguistics has since the 1960s been making the claim that multilingualism is a positive thing in societies. It represents the richness of cultural diversity in language and so enriches society, and it is beneficial for individuals too. These arguments have, to some extent, now penetrated political institutions, and the EU, for instance, now celebrates and champions multilingualism in the Union. There is no need to provide an emblematic string of references here: most of sociolinguistics has shared these assumptions and has, often with vigour and passion, broadcast them to whoever was likely to listen.

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Authors
  1. Jan Blommaert
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  2. Sirpa Leppänen
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  3. Massimiliano Spotti
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Jan Blommaert

  2. University of Jyväskylä, Finland

    Sirpa Leppänen  & Tiina Räisänen  & 

  3. University of Tampere, Finland

    Päivi Pahta

Copyright information

© 2012 Jan Blommaert, Sirpa Leppänen and Massimiliano Spotti

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Blommaert, J., Leppänen, S., Spotti, M. (2012). Endangering Multilingualism. In: Blommaert, J., Leppänen, S., Pahta, P., Räisänen, T. (eds) Dangerous Multilingualism. Language and Globalization. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137283566_1

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