Discusses to what extent the broadcast media in the Breton language has acted as a vital link to language maintenance in Brittany. Highlights the background context of the Breton language, reasons for its decline, and what the broadcast media can do to help reverse language shift. (Author/VWL)

Examines whether a broadcast media can effect some degree of language shift in areas where the a language is the target language of revitalization efforts or can consolidate language maintenance in areas where the broadcast language is the language of the speech community. (Author/VWL)

Immigrants arriving in a new country typically have varying ideas about the relative status of their native language and the language of the receiving society, and some have strategies for dealing with maintenance and shift. In all cases there are differences between the immigrants' language experiences in the two countries. This paper reports on…

This qualitative study, framed by a language socialisation perspective, explores parental language attitudes of families living in Paraguay, where Spanish and the indigenous language of Guarani coexist in what many sociolinguistics have labelled a diglossic society. During home visits, 27 parents or primary caregivers participated in individual…

This article contains the address given by His Excellency John Ralston Saul in St. Petersburg, Russia, September 29, 2003, when he was presented with an Honorary Degree during a state visit. In this address, Saul discusses the need to embrace complexity, the strength that is gained from diversity, and the need to respect and protect minority…

The present research was undertaken to identify sociocultural variables that influence whether Russian-speaking parents living in Estonia choose Russian, Estonian, or bilingual (Russian and Estonian) instruction for their children. To examine which sociocultural variables are related to parents' choice of language of instruction, 346…

The role of the home and family/caregivers is commonly acknowledged as being central to securing the intergenerational socialisation of minority languages. Research evidence demonstrates that the survival or demise of minority languages crucially depends upon the extent to which the language is passed on from one generation to the next within the…

Education and ethnicity cannot be discussed without taking language into account. This paper will argue that any discussion of ethnic minorities cannot ignore the question of language, nor can any discussion of human rights ignore the question of language rights. Unfortunately, in today's globalised world, governments and minorities are faced with…

Testimony concerning Senate Bill 1595 includes statements submitted by Senator Daniel Inouye, from the Select Committee on Indian Affairs, and S. Timothy Wapato, Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans, Department of Health and Human Services. The bill in question aims to preserve and enhance the ability of Alaska Natives to speak and…

This paper presents a field linguist's personal observations on language work and the language effort in Alaskan Athabaskan languages. Language work is the various ways in which people can make real accomplishments in one of the smaller languages for the benefit of themselves and the people around them, and for the benefit of the larger society.…

Preliminary findings of a survey of Cherokee language and education and the data collection and analysis methods are reported. The survey was designed to study language use, bilingualism, and education in the Cherokee community. The scope of the survey encompassed Cherokee children between the ages of 5 and 14 who attended public school and lived…

Intended to help teachers of English, language arts, and other subjects interpret "English Only" language issues for students, parents, and school communities, this book addresses various aspects of the controversy. Articles, listed with their authors, are as follows: (1) "The Roots of Language Protectionism" (Harvey A.…

A study investigated dialect change in a southern Netherlands city, where the dialect spoken is distant from Dutch in phonology, morphology, and lexicon. The dialect is commonly spoken in the city of Maastricht, and is not restricted to one social class. Subjects were 64 native inhabitants of Maastricht from three generations: older (over 55…

The use of informal group settings such as kaffeekranzchen for the maintenance of German language and culture among adult speakers is reported. Regular bimonthly kaffeekranzchen were held by a native German speaker at the suggestion of several German-Texan women, ranging in age from 40 to 79, who were interested in polishing and maintaining their…

This study is based on the general finding that the linguistic reality of a bilingual community is complex and that the two languages are not compartmentalized into any particular spheres of social life. It uses this finding to explore a theoretical position that treats facts regarding language functions and usage as if these, in and of…