Exploring the Dynamics of Multilingualism
The DYLAN project
Editors
This book addresses the meanings and implications of multilingualism and its uses in a context of rapid changes, in Europe and around the world. All types of organisations, including the political institutions of the European Union, universities and private-sector companies must rise to the many challenges posed by operating in a multilingual environment. This requires them, in particular, to make the best use of speakers’ very diverse linguistic repertoires.
The contributions in this volume, which stem from the DYLAN research project financed by the European Commission as part of its Sixth Framework Programme, examine at close range how these repertoires develop, how they change and how actors adapt skilfully the use of their repertoires to different objectives and conditions. These different strategies are also examined in terms of their capacity to ensure efficient and fair communication in a multilingual Europe.
Careful observation of actors’ multilingual practices reveals finely tuned communicational strategies drawing on a wide range of different languages, including national languages, minority languages and lingue franche. Understanding these practices, their meaning and their implications, helps to show in what way and under what conditions they are not merely a response to a problem, but an asset for political institutions, universities and business.
The contributions in this volume, which stem from the DYLAN research project financed by the European Commission as part of its Sixth Framework Programme, examine at close range how these repertoires develop, how they change and how actors adapt skilfully the use of their repertoires to different objectives and conditions. These different strategies are also examined in terms of their capacity to ensure efficient and fair communication in a multilingual Europe.
Careful observation of actors’ multilingual practices reveals finely tuned communicational strategies drawing on a wide range of different languages, including national languages, minority languages and lingue franche. Understanding these practices, their meaning and their implications, helps to show in what way and under what conditions they are not merely a response to a problem, but an asset for political institutions, universities and business.
[Multilingualism and Diversity Management, 2] 2013. xxi, 440 pp.
Publishing status: Available
© John Benjamins
Table of Contents
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Introduction | pp. ix–xxii
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Part I. Companies
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Chapter 1. Multilingual practices in professional settings: Keeping the delicate balance between progressivity and intersubjectivityVassiliki Markaki, Sara Merlino, Lorenza Mondada, Florence Oloff and Véronique Traverso | pp. 3–32
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Chapter 2. The practical processing of plurilingualism as a resource in professional activities: ‘Border-crossing’ and ‘languaging’ in multilingual workplacesLuca Greco, Patrick Renaud and Roxana Taquechel Rodriguez | pp. 33–58
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Chapter 3. Multilingualism and diversity management in companies in the Upper Rhine RegionGeorges Lüdi, Katharina Höchle Meier and Patchareerat Yanaprasart | pp. 59–82
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Chapter 4. Representations of multilingualism and management of linguistic diversity in companies: Intertwining of collective monophony and polyphony in individual enunciatorsArlette Bothorel-Witz and Irini Tsamadou-Jacoberger | pp. 83–100
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Chapter 5. A social representational perspective on languages and their management in the Danish corporate sectorSharon Millar, Sylvie Cifuentes and Astrid Jensen | pp. 101–120
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Chapter 6. What can Gaelic teach us about effective policy through planning? Strategies in Gaelic language planningLindsay Milligan, Douglas Chalmers and Hugh O'Donnell | pp. 121–138
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Chapter 7. Language diversity management on corporate websitesPatchareerat Yanaprasart, Thiresia Choremi and Filippo Gander | pp. 137–154
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Part II. European institutions
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Chapter 8. Language competence and language choice within EU institutions and their effects on national legislative authoritiesJan Kruse and Ulrich Ammon | pp. 157–178
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Chapter 9. EU and lesser-used languages: Slovene language in EU institutionsMojca Stritar and Marko Stabej | pp. 179–204
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Chapter 10. Dynamics of multilingualism in post-Enlargement EU institutions: Perceptions, Conceptions and PracticesMichał Krzyżanowski and Ruth Wodak | pp. 205–226
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Part III. Higher education
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Chapter 11. Accomplishing multilingualism through plurilingual activitiesLuci Nussbaum, Emilee Moore and Eulalia Borràs | pp. 229–252
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Chapter 12. Multilingual higher education between policies and practices: A case studyDaniela Veronesi, Lorenzo Spreafico, Cecilia Varcasia, Alessandro Vietti and Rita Franceschini | pp. 253–278
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Chapter 13. Plurilingualisms and knowledge construction in higher educationLaurent Gajo, Anne Grobet, Cecilia Serra, Gabriela Steffen, Gabriele Müller and Anne-Claude Berthoud | pp. 279–298
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Chapter 14. Language policies in universities and their outcomes: The University of Helsinki in a Northern European contextTom Moring, Sebastian Godenhjelm, Saara Haapamäki, Jan Lindström, Jan-Ola Östman, Mirja Saari and Jenny Sylvin | pp. 299–322
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Chapter 15. Policies and practices of multilingualism at Babeş-Bolyai University (Cluj, Romania)Ştefan Oltean, Liana Pop, Diana Cotrău, Delia Marga and Manuela Mihăescu | pp. 323–342
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How policies influence multilingual education and the impact of multilingual education on practicesPiet Van de Craen, Jill Surmont, Evy Ceuleers and Laure Allain | pp. 353–372
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Part IV. Transversal issues
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Chapter 17. Assessing efficiency and fairness in multilingual communication: Theory and application through indicatorsFrançois Grin and Michele Gazzola | pp. 365–386
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Chapter 18. English as a lingua franca in European multilingualismCornelia Hülmbauer and Barbara Seidlhofer | pp. 387–406
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Chapter 19. Europe’s multilingualism in the context of a European culture of standard languagesOlivier Moliner, Ulrike Vogl and Matthias Hüning | pp. 407–428
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ConclusionAnne-Claude Berthoud, François Grin and Georges Lüdi | pp. 429–436
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Index | pp. 437–440
“In a knowledge-based global economy that has to ensure both economic competitiveness and social justice, multilingual societies like those of the European Union have to deal with a linguistic diversity that is both a challenge and an enormous opportunity. Given the profound link between language, knowledge and power, this ambitious and pathbreaking book asks the fundamental question: “To what extent and under what conditions is multilingualism an asset for the construction, transmission and use of knowledge?” With scholarly teams from 18 different universities in 12 European countries, the authors have used a variety of methodologies from various fields in the language sciences to capture what is actually going on at institutional meetings and companies’ workplaces, in corporate boardrooms and public schoolrooms. It offers policy makers, business stakeholders and educators invaluable guidance on how to turn linguistic diversity into an asset. The book should be compulsory reading for any doctoral student in sociolinguistics, education, and language policy and planning, and for anyone interested in the study of globalization and multilingualism.”
Claire Kramsch, University of California, Berkeley
“This book is a shining example of outstanding European collaboration. The contributors from various language backgrounds have used a wide variety of epistemological, methodological and theoretical approaches to investigate multilingualism in Europe. This cultural and scientific diversity turns out to be, just like the linguistic diversity prevalent in Europe, a huge asset. The result is an inspiring book presenting a nuanced yet convincing view of the benefits of linguistic diversity.”
Jean-Marc Dewaele, Birkbeck College, University of London
“This book provides an important cross-disciplinary contribution to the scientific community. Although it is aimed at a readership of scholars, its findings provide convincing evidence of the advantages of multilingualism in different spheres of communication. It therefore becomes important to disseminate the results also to non-specialists who contribute to preserving language diversity. The chapters are skillfully divided into sections, to guide the reader towards an in-depth understanding of the complexity and the dynamic nature of multilingualism. In sum, the book tackles difficult issues and complex fields in an admirable way and provides important directions for future research.”
Anna Ghimenton, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris 3 Clesthia, in the Journal of Language Contact, Vol. 8 (2015, pag. 435-440.
“The diverse nature of the topics investigated, the various methodological approaches employed, and the multiple contexts presented paint quite a complex and comprehensive picture of today’s European linguistic diversity. Although it covers many areas of study and geographical contexts, the main research question of the project can be easily followed throughout the book. It is a commendable accomplishment for such a large project, involving so many research teams.”
Ruxandra Comanaru, Birkbeck College, University of London, on linguist List 26.1999 (April 2015)
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2022. Chapter 2. Principles of integrated language policy. In Advances in Interdisciplinary Language Policy [Studies in World Language Problems, 9], ► pp. 24 ff. 
Grin, François & Peter A. Kraus
2018. Chapter 1. The politics of multilingualism. In The Politics of Multilingualism [Studies in World Language Problems, 6], ► pp. 1 ff. 
Hofmann, Stephanie
Horner, Kristine
Karpava, Sviatlana
Lüdi, Georges
2014. Dynamics and management of linguistic diversity in companies and institutions
of higher education. In Plurilingual Education [Hamburg Studies on Linguistic Diversity, 3], ► pp. 113 ff. 
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Matrisciano, Sara
Melo-Pfeifer, Sílvia
Moore, Emilee
Piccoli, Vanessa, F. Neveu, B. Harmegnies, L. Hriba & S. Prévost
Vallejo Rubinstein, Claudia & Valeria Tonioli
Vermandere, Dieter, Lieve Vangehuchten & Rebecca Van Herck
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[no author supplied]
[no author supplied]
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 13 november 2023. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.
Subjects
Main BIC Subject
CFG: Semantics, Pragmatics, Discourse Analysis
Main BISAC Subject
LAN009000: LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General