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Promoting linguistic vitality through public policy: The role of rules, costs and incentives
Edited by Bengt-Arne Wickström, Noémi Nagy, Anneliese Rieger-Roschitz and Balázs Vizi
[Language Problems and Language Planning 47:2] 2023
► pp. 113–135
Introduction

Language (re)vitalization

What characterizes a sensible policy?

ORCID logo | Andrássy-Universität
ORCID logo | Ludovika University of Public Service
ORCID logo | Andrássy-Universität
ORCID logo | Ludovika University of Public Service
Many small languages are in danger of extinction. How to stop and reverse this process is an important topic in the sociolinguistic literature. In addition to the revitalization of languages, there are also some examples of vitalizing (bringing to use) “new” languages, for example the introduction of Ivrit (modern Hebrew) in Palestine/Israel. Generally speaking, for a language to be used, no matter which language, the users must find it attractive and useful. At least two factors are important here: the value attributed to the language by its users as a means of communication and as a carrier of culture and identity. It is assumed that these factors can be influenced by language-policy measures.
The impact of various measures on the vitality of the language is an empirical matter. However, one can draw some general conclusions regarding which measures are sensible in order to vitalize or revitalize which languages when the financial resources of the policy-maker are limited. In this introductory text to the theme issue, we apply the methodology of cost-effectiveness analysis to discuss the connection between the types of the policy measures employed and characteristics of the language communities addressed, such as size, social status, and residential patterns. The cost-effectiveness ratio of street signs in a minority language might, for instance, be higher for a community spread over a whole country than for a community of the same size concentrated in one geographically limited jurisdiction. On the other hand, a decision to publish the texts of laws and decrees of a country in a minority language will have approximately the same effect for both types of minorities. The articles in this special issue of LPLP address and evaluate different types of policy measures for different linguistic minorities and illustrate important aspects of the main questions in this paper.
Keywords: vitality, (re)vitalizaton, policy measures, planning, communication, identity, culture, status, cost-effectiveness analysis, cost structure, minority language, sociolinguistic characteristics of minority
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Three examples illustrating vitalization and revitalization of three languages
      • 1.1.1The resurrection of Hebrew as Modern Hebrew
      • 1.1.2The relative success of Esperanto
      • 1.1.3The flourishing of Basque in Spain
    • 1.2Vitality and language policy
      • 1.2.1Methodology: Microeconomics analysis
      • 1.2.2Cost-effectiveness analysis
      • 1.2.3Dynamics
      • 1.2.4Implementation
  • 2.Costs and effects of language policy
    • 2.1Types of goods
    • 2.2Cost structure
    • 2.3Characteristics of linguistic minorities and costs
      • 2.3.1Rival and spatial measures
      • 2.3.2Non-rival and non-spatial measure
      • 2.3.3Rival and non-spatial measures
      • 2.3.4Non-rival and spatial measures
    • 2.4Cost structure, fiscal federalism, autonomy, and the principles of territoriality and personality
  • 3.Dynamics of linguistic behavior
  • 4.Choice of policy measures
  • 5.A brief summary of the other contributions to this issue
  • 6.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 8 January 2024
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.00102.wic
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Cited by (1)

Cited by one other publication

Wickström, Bengt-Arne
2024. Law and economics of minority-language policy. European Journal of Law and Economics DOI logo

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