Description
Language Policy and the New Speaker Challenge addresses a critical gap in sociolinguistic research by focusing on the phenomenon of ‘new speakers’—individuals who acquire a language outside the traditional intergenerational transmission process. Williams provides a comprehensive analysis of how language policies attempt to create and sustain speaker communities for minority and endangered languages worldwide.
The book examines the theoretical frameworks underlying language policy development and implementation, while also presenting practical case studies that illuminate real-world challenges. It explores the tension between institutional language planning efforts and the actual linguistic behaviors and identities of new speakers. Williams argues that many language revitalization initiatives are ‘hiding in plain sight,’ operating within communities without being fully recognized or understood.
This work is essential for policymakers, linguists, educators, and anyone interested in language preservation, cultural identity, and the future of minority languages in an increasingly globalized world.
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