Language Wars and Linguistic Politics [Paperback]

Non-linguistic conflicts--economic, religious, territorial--are often projected on to language differences, and may be played out in the language policies of governments and other holders of power. Jean-Louis Calvet deals broadly, in a non-technical and introductory style, with this interaction of language issues and political process. He examines the fundamental problems arising from language contact, multilingualism, and the conflicts caused by inequalities symbolized in various patterns of language use.

Introduction
Part I: The Origins of Conflict
1. The Question of Origins
2. Religions and Language
3. A Multilingual World
4. Ideologists of Superiority
Part II: The Battlefield
5. Lingua Francas and Vernaculars
6. The Family as a Battlefield
7. Markets and Languages
8. Lingua Francas
9. The Death of Languages
Part III: Among the Administrators
10. Language Policy and Planning: First Approach
11. Case Studies: The Management of Multilingualism
12. Case Studies: Language Planning and Nationalism
13. Case Study: The Language Struggle of the Jivaro of Ecuador
14. The War of Writing
15. The War of Words
16. Trench Warfare: The Case of French
17. The Pacifist Illusion and Esperanto
Conclusion

Nontechnical and interesting, [Language Wars and Linguistic Politics] is addressed to nonspecialists and is recommended for all academic and public collections. --Choice