Article published in:
Language Problems and Language Planning
Vol. 44:1 (2020) ► pp. 45–65

Language competition modeling and language policy evaluation

| Humboldt-Universiät zu Berlin

In this paper, we present a framework for the analysis of effects of language policies on the competition between languages. At the core of this framework is a language competition model that takes into account four pivotal factors for the evolution of the linguistic composition of a society: intergenerational language transmission, formal language education, adult language learning and migration. In contrast to the majority of models available in the literature, our model operates with parameters that can be estimated from empirical socio-linguistic data. It allows the reconstruction of past and simulate future dynamics. Language policies can be modeled as changes in model parameters. Therefore, projections derived from the model can be utilized to compare the effects of different policy options. We use Basque and Spanish within the Basque Autonomous Community in Spain to illustrate the application of the model.

Keywords: minority language, language policy evaluation, language competition models
Published online: 01 July 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.00055.tem
References

References

Abrams, D. M., & Strogatz, S. H.
(2003) Linguistics: Modelling the dynamics of language death. Nature, 424(6951), 900–900. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Basque Government
(2008) Fourth Sociolinguistic Survey 2006 (Tech. Rep.). Vitoria-Gasteiz.Google Scholar
Basque Government
(2013) Fitth Sociolinguistic Survey 2011 (Tech. Rep.). Vitoria-Gasteiz.Google Scholar
Cassels Johnson, D.
(2013) Language Policy. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Castellano, C., Fortunato, S., & Loreto, V.
(2009) Statistical physics of social dynamics. Reviews of modern physics, 81(2), 591. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Eustat
(2014) Panorámica Demográfica 2014 (Tech. Rep.). Donostia-San Sebastian: Instituto Vasco de Estadística.Google Scholar
Fernando, C., Valijärvi, R.-L., & Goldstein, R. A.
(2010) A model of the mechanisms of language extinction and revitalization strategies to save endangered languages. Human biology, 82(1), 47–75. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Gardner, N.
(2002) Language policy for Basque in education. Submission to the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee of the National Assembly of Wales.Google Scholar
Gazzola, M.
(2014) The Evaluation of Language Regimes: Theory and application to multilingual patent organisations (Vol. 3). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Gobierno Vasco
(2003) Bases para una mayor eficacia y mejora de la calidad de la euskaldunización y alfabetización de adultos (Tech. Rep.). Vitoria-Gasteiz.Google Scholar
Gobierno Vasco
(2008) Transmisión intergeneracional del euskera en la CAV. Vitoria-Gasteiz: Servicio Central de Publicaciones del Gobierno Vasco.Google Scholar
Gobierno Vasco, Gobierno de Navarra, & Euskararen erakunde publikoa-Office public de la langue basque
(2016) Vi encuesta sociolingüística: Comunidad autónoma de euskadi (Tech. Rep.). Donostia-San Sebastián.Google Scholar
Gong, T., Shuai, L., & Zhang, M.
(2014) Modelling language evolution: Examples and predictions. Physics of Life Reviews, 11(2), 280–302. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Grin, F.
(1999) Economics. In J. A. Fishman (Ed.), Handbook of Language and Ethnic Identity (pp. 9–24). Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
(2003) Language planning and economics. Current issues in language planning, 4(1), 1–66. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Houle, R., & Corbeil, J.-P.
(2017) Language Projections for Canada, 2011 to 2036 (Tech. Rep.). Ottawa: Statistics Canada.Google Scholar
ISEI-IVEI
(2005) Level B2 in Basque at the end of obligatory education (Tech. Rep.). Bilbao.Google Scholar
John, A.
(2016) Dynamic Models of Language Evolution: The Economic Perspective. In V. Ginsburgh & S. Weber (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook Economics and Language (pp. 61–100). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Minett, J. W., & Wang, W. S.
(2008) Modelling endangered languages: The effects of bilingualism and social structure. Lingua, 118(1), 19–45. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Morrill, R. L.
(2016) On the measure of geographic segregation. Geography research forum, 11, 25–36. Retrieved 2016-02-22, from http://​raphael​.geography​.ad​.bgu​.ac​.il​/ojs​/index​.php​/GRF​/article​/view​/91
Sabourin, P., & Bélanger, A.
(2015) Microsimulation of Language Dynamics in a Multilingual Region with High Immigration. International Journal of Microsimulation, 8(1), 67–96. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Templin, T., Seidel, A., Wickström, B.-A., & Feichtinger, G.
(2016) Optimal language policy for the preservation of a minority language. Mathematical Social Sciences (81), 8–21. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Wickström, B.-A.
(2005) Can Bilingualism be Dynamically Stable?: A Simple Model of Language Choice. Rationality and Society, 17, 81–115. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Zalbide, M., & Cenoz, J.
(2008) Bilingual education in the Basque Autonomous Community: Achievements and challenges. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 21(1), 5–20. CrossrefGoogle Scholar