
Minority Language Revitalisation and Regulation
Colin H. Williams(Author)
Edinburgh University Press
Will be published approx. on 30. June 2026
Book
Hardback
376 pages
978-1-3995-6177-8 (ISBN)
Description
Through careful and systematic analysis of policy documents and data from a vast range of interviews with politicians, senior public servants, community representatives and academics, this book sheds light on the way in which different jurisdictions manage the process of implementing measures and legislation to enhance the vitality of selected languages and their speakers.
Drawing on case studies from the Basque Autonomous Community, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Finland, Catalonia and Canada and the author's first-hand experience as a language strategist who has advised governments in the UK, Ireland, the EU, Canada and RSA, the book brings language policy to life through close engagement with the stories and narratives of people who shape policy decisions. This provides real understanding of the mechanics of regulation in minority language policy and how it is taken up and implemented (or not) and why this happens.
Drawing on case studies from the Basque Autonomous Community, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Finland, Catalonia and Canada and the author's first-hand experience as a language strategist who has advised governments in the UK, Ireland, the EU, Canada and RSA, the book brings language policy to life through close engagement with the stories and narratives of people who shape policy decisions. This provides real understanding of the mechanics of regulation in minority language policy and how it is taken up and implemented (or not) and why this happens.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Illustrations
25 b&w figures & tables
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-3995-6177-8 (9781399561778)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Colin H. Williams (1950-2026) was Emeritus Professor at the School of Welsh, Cardiff University and a Senior Member of St Edmund's College, Cambridge.
Content
Acknowledgements
Poem
1. Enhancing Minority Language Vitality
2. Minority Language Revitalisation: Three Conundrums
3. Spatial Representation and Sociolinguistic Synergies
4. The Irish State and Language Policy
5 Finland: a Settled Accommodation
6. Gaelic in Scotland
7. The International Association of Language Commissioners: Promotion, Legislation and Regulation: IALC
8. Canada's Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages/Commissariat aux langues officielles du Canada
9. Language Commissioners and Ombudsmen
10. Compliance, Investigations, Schemes and Standards
Conclusion: Outstanding Challenges
References
Poem
1. Enhancing Minority Language Vitality
2. Minority Language Revitalisation: Three Conundrums
3. Spatial Representation and Sociolinguistic Synergies
4. The Irish State and Language Policy
5 Finland: a Settled Accommodation
6. Gaelic in Scotland
7. The International Association of Language Commissioners: Promotion, Legislation and Regulation: IALC
8. Canada's Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages/Commissariat aux langues officielles du Canada
9. Language Commissioners and Ombudsmen
10. Compliance, Investigations, Schemes and Standards
Conclusion: Outstanding Challenges
References