It is argued that in the states of Francophone Africa, French is not always the language of the masses and that in light of sociolinguistic data, choice, or actual usage, new language policy accentuating national idioms is more viable than exclusive promotion of French. (38 references) (Author/MSE)

The Supreme Court of Canada has ensured that provincial legislatures are under a compulsory obligation to take measures to provide whatever type and level of rights and services are appropriate for minority-language education for the particular number of pupils involved. (MLF)

A catalog of heritage language projects funded by the Canadian government's Multiculturalism Program since 1973 lists milestones in the government's support of heritage languages, publications, research projects, teaching aids, resource kits, teacher training projects, and promotional organizations. (CB)

Four points in Ladefoged's discussion note in "Language" (v68 March 1992) are examined: arguments based on political considerations; the cost of giving up a native language to join a dominant language; the responsibility of a linguist in supporting the loss of a particular language; and the task of the linguist. (one reference) (LB)

Applies a taxonomic principle to analyze the gradual elaboration of any language or sign system as a technology of communication rather than the reflection of a specialized language faculty or cluster of language faculties. (Author/CB)

A controversial April 1991 proclamation made Spanish the sole official language of Puerto Rico, replacing a 1902 law declaring English and Spanish as the languages of government. This paper discusses the emotional debate and suggests that the law resulted from a powerful group opposed to U.S. statehood. (27 references) (Author/LB)

Describes recent efforts by members of the Ute tribe (northeastern Utah) to introduce a written form of the Ute language. Discusses several reasons for the resistance to Ute literacy among many members of the tribe and the steps that have been taken in response to these concerns. (EVL)

Critical analysis of three cases of grammatical borrowing of Frisian from Dutch leads to the specific conclusion that the Frisian grammatical system does not "Dutchify," and to general conclusions concerning the ways that minority languages can and cannot be influenced by dominant languages. (Author/CB)

Applies the concept of indigenous rights to language preservation through exploration of other European language debates in the western hemisphere, and provides general background on the ways in which Native-American languages have been suppressed and devalued. The experiences of the Kuna nation of Panama in reintroducing their native language are…

Discusses Louisiana's linguistic history, focusing on periods when the state was predominantly French speaking, when it was officially bilingual, when French was threatened to become extinguished, and ultimately when the state decided to preserve its French-speaking heritage. (VWL)

Explores the example of the indigenous Innu community in Labrador, Canada, in relation to past and present patterns of exploitation of land and stigmatization of language and culture by European colonizers. Examines how the Innu community has invested time and effort to wrest control of their lives from non-Innu. Describes how this process has…

Provides a survey of the Sami languages in present-day Norway. A brief overview highlights the historical and current position of Sami, discusses two often-overlooked examples of Sami language and culture, Lule Sami and Southern Sami, and explores the current position of these latter two examples and the various language and education initiatives…

Low German is in danger of being given up by native speakers. The projects reported in this article were carried out in Western Westfalia and Emsland, German regions generally known as conservative with respect to language maintenance and language change. (Author/JL)

Examines the vitality perceptions of the Dutch and the Germans in the context of the progressive European unification with special emphasis on the relationship between subjective vitality perceptions and group identification. Results are discussed with reference to recent findings and developments in vitality theory as well as with regard to…

Examines some intergenerational changes in subordination (conditionals and subjunctive clauses) in a Cajun French community, exploring the gradual loss of nonindicative moods and the abandonment of finite clauses in subjunctive contexts in favor of innovative nonfinite clause types via a continuum of variation. (Author/MSE)