Multilingualism in the English-Speaking World
Pedigree of Nations
Published on 8. May 2008
264 pages
978-0-470-75476-4 (ISBN)
Description
Multilingualism in the English-Speaking World is thewinner of the BAAL Book Prize 2005.
Multilingualism in the English-Speaking World: Pedigree ofNations explores the consequences of English as a globallanguage and multilingualism as a social phenomenon. Writtenaccessibly, it explores the extent of diversity in 'innercircle' English speaking countries (the UK, the USA, Canada,South Africa, Australia and New Zealand) and examines language inthe home, school, and the wider community.
* * Considers the perspectives of English as a global language aswell as multilingualism as a social phenomenon.
* Written in an accessible style that draws on contemporary reallife examples.
* Examines the everyday realities of people living in 'innercircle' English-speaking countries, such as the UK, USA, Canada,South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
* Discusses the theoretical issues that underpin current debates,drawing on research literature on societal multilingualism,language maintenance and shift, language policy, language andpower, and language and identity.
Reviews / Votes
'This ambitious book is timely, well conceived, and highlyaccessible to a wide audience. The author brings together a rangeof topics related to language that have not been addressedcoherently in any other volume.' Jim Cummins,University of Toronto 'This is a book whose time has come. Its focus onmultilingualism in English-dominant countries uncovers a wealth oflanguage activity that has largely gone unnoticed, and unremarked,until now, providing a much-needed counterbalance to the myopicpreoccupation in the academic and wider popular literature withEnglish. Viv Edwards's book is also simply a pleasure to read- highly lucid, accessible and interesting, there is muchhere to enjoy, and learn from, for both the academic and thegeneral reader.' Stephen May, Universityof Waikato "This work remains an important contribution tomacro-sociolinguistic issues." Journal ofSociolinguistics "A hugely informative and timely book, which focuses onmultilingualism in English-dominant countries" MultilinguaMore details
Other editions
Additional editions
Software
01/2008
Wiley
€82.75
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Book
08/2004
1st Edition
Wiley
€132.50
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Book
08/2004
1st Edition
Wiley
€47.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Viv Edwards is Professor of Language and Education at the University of Reading. She is editor of the international journal Language and Education, and her publications include The World in a Classroom: Language in Education in Britain and Canada (with Angela Redfern, 1992), The Other Languages: A Guide to Multilingual Classrooms (1996), and The Power of Babel: Teaching and Learning in Multilingual Classrooms (1998).
Content
Preface.
Part I: The extent of diversity:.
1. The myth of monolingualism.
2. Roots of diversity.
3. Access to services.
Part II: Language at home and in school:.
4. Language in the family.
5. Language and education: a history.
6. Language and education in the modern world.
7. Majority speakers and minority languages.
Part III: Language in the wider community:.
8. Language and the economy.
9. Language and the media.
10. Language and the Arts.
11. Language, diplomacy and defence.
12. Is life really too short to learn German?.
References.
Index.
