Contents: Preface. Introduction. Part I: Setting the Scene. What Is Happening to the Languages of the World. Connections Between Biodiversity and Linguistic and Cultural Diversity. Mother Tongue(s), Culture, Ethnicity, and Self-Determination. Linguistic Diversity--Curse or Blessing? To Be Maintained or Not? Why? Part II: Linguistic Genocide, State Policies, and Globalisation. State Policies Towards Languages--Linguistic Genocide, Language Death, or Support for Languages? Globalisation, Power, and Control. Part III: Struggle Against Linguistic Genocide and for Linguistic Human Rights in Education. Linguistic Human Rights. Linguistic Human Rights in Education? Alternatives to Genocide and Dystopia.
Tove Skutnabb-Kangas
"Language related documentalists will find this an invaluable,
relevant source, given the author's keen sense of
informativity....Written by the world's most active, committed,
dedicated and knowledgeable scholar in the new domain of human
linguistic rights...this very thought- and action-provoking book
will be of interest and inspiration to all those who share
Skutnabb-Kangas' conviction that 'more overt political action' is
needed by 'the same people who do the persuading' in favour of
diversity and human rights. In short, a 'must' for all humanists
and humanisers interested in linguistic rights, cultural rights,
and related issues."
—SIGNPOST"...this magnum opus provides a synthesis of Tove
Skutnabb-Kangas' three decades of writing, but also in itself has
new and provocative ideas. Who else in the world could so
successfully combine language theory and research with human
rights, biodiversity, language ecology, linguistic imperialism,
bilingual and multilingual education, anti-racism, cultural
diversity, ethnicity, and politics? The book is unique....
the book is a tour de force, an encyclopedic consideration of
minority languages, well informed, geographically and
intellectually global in understanding. Few scholars produce works
of such substance and scope. The book is not presented in standard
academic prose. It is passionate and vigorous, sometimes emotive
and polemic. This is a tome of commitment. It advocates and affirms
with intensity and ardour. This is not a gentle and neutral text
but an agitated uncovering of inequity and injustice. It is
uncomfortable and provocative such that it threatens warm and
well-accepted wisdom."
—Journal of Sociolinguistics"It challenges common assumptions and
misconceptions and then goes on to suggest how education and
linguistic and human rights can be combined without being
threatening to the majority....is a mine of information and a must
for anyone with an interest in education and human rights."
—Newsletter of Foundation for Endangered Languages"The book is a
mine of information and a must for anyone with an interest in
education and human rights".
—Newsletter of Foundation for Endangered Languages"Skutnabb-Kangas'
667 pages of running text and 70 pages of references in defence of
global language diversity is impressive and worth the effort. The
volume is a source-book for scholars in the field of
sociolinguistics, particularly language policy and language
planning, the sociology of education, critical pedagogy,
comparative education and minority studies, cultural studies,
ethnolinguistics and ecological issues. This is a do-it-yourself
manual that I can actually understand without having to read it
upside-down."
—Current Issues in Language Planning"It is a politically ambitious
book about inequality, in which language policies are analysed in
the context of world wide power relations. This book is a call for
action, because it demands change. It is a voluminous book of
almost 800 pages, based upon some decades of the author's own
research as well as on results from research across various
academic disciplines...Even though she at times attacks teaching
traditions furiously and names their fallacies, Skuttnabb-Kangas
has not written a pessimistic book. It is her concern to call
attention to alternatives in minority and dominated-group
education... The book shows a clear commitment and there is no
doubt that Skutnabb-Kangas's general cause should be
supported."
—European Educational Research Journal"Now and then a book is
published that stands out above the rest because its contribution
is both important and unique. We know that it is a text that we
will return to again and again-it will live with us.
Skutnabb-Kangas' new book, Linguistic Genocide in Education, is
such a book; it is an intellectual tour de force^; it interests,
fascinates, disturbs, and challenges us on many different levels.
It combines rich description with in-depth analysis examining
sociolinguistic, sociocultural, and political issues from different
perspectives without losing sight of the main thesis of the book.
This intricately woven tapestry, unravelled for and by the reader,
offers multi-faceted and multi-levelled accounts; it represents a
great intellect at its peak."
—Multilingual Matters LTD"This work, by one of the leading scholars
of linguistic human rights, presents a provocative, engaging, grand
synthesis. It makes a major contribution by bringing together a
number of contemporary theoretical and research orientations as
evidenced by its focus on linguistic human rights, linguistic
ecology, and the impact of linguistic imperialism. In addition, it
provides basic insights on anti-racist education....This is a book
that deserves reading by students and scholars committed to
furthering educational equity and human rights. Both specialists
and those new to the field will find it challenging and
informative. It is the type of book that forces educators and
students to reflect on their own assumptions and values."
—Terrence G. Wiley
Arizona State University"A pathbreaking text, written with absolute
clarity of purpose and commitment....The book as a whole takes the
debates about minority languages much further than ever
before....It is a fascinating and immediate social history of
languages, political forces, struggles, and education....[Although]
this is a lengthy work, and one which may appear to be daunting at
the outset....what one discovers is an engaging and varied style
which teases the reader further and further into a domain which has
never before been captured from so many and new angles....It is a
privilege and a pleasure to read a work of such international
significance."
—Kathleen Heugh
Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa,
University of Ca"An absolutely stirring 'J'accuse', appealing to
the conscience of the Western world to cease the ethnolinguistic
genocide which it has inflicted on humanity at large. Via a superb
and compelling assembly of data, logic, argument, and analysis,
Skutnabb-Kangas shows how justice, decency, health, social
stability, and normal biodiversity all suffer, even in the West
itself, when linguacidal state and global policies are implemented.
Nothing less than an international campaign for linguistic human
rights is called for and called for with compelling force and
convincing clarity."
—Joshua Fishman
University Research Professor of Social Sciences, Yeshiva
University"A substantial, important, and creative
contribution....Skutnabb-Kangas is a very gifted and respected
scholar, and her past work has been seminal in the field. This book
not only brings together a number of the themes and topics on which
she has worked in the past, but moves forward in a substantial
manner the debate about language policy in education broadly
conceived....It represents Skutnabb-Kangas at her very best, and
will challenge other researchers, teachers, and policymakers to
more honestly and thoughtfully address language-related issues in
education."
—Timothy Reagan
University of Connecticut
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