In:Multidimensional Linguistic Justice: Developing a Capability-Based Index for Language Policy
Cecilia Gialdini
[Studies in World Language Problems 11] 2026
► pp. v–vii
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Table of contents
List of figures
List of tables
Abbreviations
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1.The functions of language
2.Language, diversity and power
3.The foundation of linguistic justice
3.1Decentring epistemologies and practices of linguistic justice
3.2Expanding the scope of linguistic justice
4.Measuring linguistic justice
5.Navigating the book
6.A note on positionality
Chapter I.Linguistic justice as an analytical tool
1.The actors: Language and linguistic diversity in an open world
1.1Allochthonous and autochthonous minorities
1.2New and old minorities: Normative implications
for language policies
for language policies
1.3Sign languages and non-oral linguistic justice
2.The principles: How to manage multilingualism
2.1Monolingualism vs. multilingualism
2.2Geography vs people: Defining the principle
for language policies
for language policies
3.The concepts: The environment, the repertoire and the state
3.1Defining language policy
3.2Linguistic environment and language repertoire
Chapter II.A multidimensional model for a multidimensional issue: Applying the capability approach to language
1.An introduction to the capability approach
1.1The history of the approach
1.2The theoretical underpinnings of the approach
2.The application of the capability approach
2.1The concepts of the capability approach: A basic glossary
2.2Measurement of the quality of life
3.Choosing the CA as a theoretical framework
3.1The features of the CA as a theoretical framework
Chapter III.Language and capabilities
1.Filling a gap in the linguistic justice literature
2.Applying the CA to linguistic justice
2.1The role of language within CA
2.2Capabilities and preference model
3.A capability-based theory of linguistic justice
3.1Language-based capabilities
3.2Linguistic just environment
3.3The role of the state in LPP
Chapter IV.Identifying language-based capabilities
1.Methods for selecting capabilities and their applicability
to linguistic justice
to linguistic justice
1.1Strengths and limitations of the methods
for selecting capabilities
for selecting capabilities
1.2Rawlsian constructivism: Plurality dilemma and consensus
2.The constitutional approach
2.1A constitutional approach to multidimensional poverty
3.The constitutional method for language-based capabilities
3.1First step: Public consensus through human rights
3.2Second step: Analysis of the constitutions
3.3The results of the constitutional analysis
3.4A matrix of the dimensions of linguistic justice
Chapter V.A multidimensional linguistic justice index
1.The use of composite indicators
1.1Need to measure
1.2Definition and methodology of social indicators
2.Conceptual model
2.1Definition of the phenomenon
2.2Definition of the variables
3.Selection of the indicators
3.1Methodological considerations of a composite indicator
of linguistic justice
of linguistic justice
3.2Language-based capabilities and indicators
3.3Data availability and data interpretation
3.4The normalisation of the indicators
3.5Aggregation of the indicators
3.6Visual representation of the data
4.Example of an MLJI analysis of Country A and Country B
5.Limitations of the index
5.1The “big picture” dilemma
5.2The lack of data and limitations of document analysis
5.3Preferences and proficiency: Portraying individual choices
5.4Overcoming compensability
5.5Limitations of the study and future directions
Chapter VI.Empirical testing of the MLJI in Italy
and the United Kingdom
and the United Kingdom
1.The case of the United Kingdom
1.1Management of multilingualism in the United Kingdom
1.2Discussion on the data in the UK
1.3Testing the MLJI in the UK
2.The case of Italy
2.1Management of multilingualism in Italy
2.2Discussion of findings from the data in Italy
2.3Test of the MLJI for Italy
3.Discussion
3.1Comparing the two cases
3.2Populating the MLJI: Limitations and further considerations
Conclusions
Appendix I.R codes
Appendix II.Datasets for the UK and Italy
1.United Kingdom
2.Italy
References
