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Catalan Sociolinguistics: State of the art and future challenges
Edited by Miquel Àngel Pradilla Cardona
[IVITRA Research in Linguistics and Literature 32] 2022
► pp. 173–182

Chapter 12
The economics of language

| Rovira i Virgili University

This article reviews the contributions made from the Catalan academia to the economy of the language. The economics of language comprises two subfields: (1) the study of the relationships between language and economic activity, and (2) the study of the social dimensions of language from the economic method in a strict sense. The production from the economy of the language in strict sense has few although original researches. Among the inquiries that have been made, stands out that is characterized by the emphasis on the value of the language itself, and not just in the exchange value of a given language. Also is remarkable the analysis of the economic and political competition between linguistic groups. In spite of the relevance of the problems dealt with, there has not been a specialization of researchers in the study of the relations between economy and language in the Catalan linguistic sphere. Lack of research brings us the problem that research is essentially replaced by untested dominant social representations about dimension of language speakers community as the only factor for market valuation and economic growth.

Keywords: economy of language, economic method, use value, economic competition
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction: Language imperialism and the economic method
  • 2.Economics of language: Delimitation
  • 3.Language and economic activity
  • 4.Language and economic method
  • 5.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 1 December 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/ivitra.32.12ala
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