Chapter 2
Contested languages and the denial of linguistic rights in the 21st century
In this chapter I argue that over-reliance on socio-political criteria (i.e.
Ausbau-centrism) in the linguistic literature is partly responsible for the discrimination to
which speakers of contested languages are subjected at both the social and the institutional level. Further, I argue
that an Ausbau-centred approach also leads to undersplitting of languages (i.e. recognising as few
languages as possible), which is ultimately detrimental to the maintenance of linguistic diversity. I conclude by
suggesting that the introduction of an Abstand-based perspective is necessary if we are to achieve a
taxonomy of “languages” that cuts through socio-cultural biases and that works in favour of language rights and
linguistic diversity.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.The failure of Ausbau-centric linguistics
- 3.Self-perception: A reliable taxonomical alternative?
- 4.Taking Abstand seriously: The intelligibility criterion
- 4.1Asymmetry, or “non-reciprocal” intelligibility
- 4.2Attitudes and motivation
- 4.3Intelligibility as a way forward
- 5.Conclusions
-
Notes
-
References
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