Words of the World: The Global Language System by Abram De Swaan
This bold and accessible study of human languages and communication explores issues which are at the forefront of today's globalized society.
Words of the World
Summary
This bold and accessible study of human languages and communication explores issues which are at the forefront of today's globalized society. The human species is divided into more than five thousand language groups that do not understand each other.
Words of the World Summary
Words of the World Reviews
Abram de Swaan is the world's leading political sociologist of language. He has a profound knowledge of the complex history interlinking states and languages and an equally acute understanding of individual incentives to learn languages. Here he applies his insights and methods - with surprising results -- to globalization and its implications for the survival of world languages. Words of the World is both a pleasure to read and a remarkable contribution to political sociology. Professor David Laitin, Stanford University ...de Swaan's view is original and rich to the extent that it sheds new light on this problem...De Swaan's analysis is definitely new and fruitful for an understanding of the relations of power and language Anais Bokobza, European University Institute, Florence, Italy De Swaan's study is an impressive tour de force; it presents an original and refreshing social science perspective, is rich in empirical detail, rigorous in its theoretical elaboration, and written in an elegant and accessible style: a path-breaking study of language change and human communication in an age of globalisation. Johan Heilbron, Multilingual Matters ...this book is an important contribution to our understanding of the relationship among languages of the world in the era of globalisation. It is a good addition to the growing body of texts used in increasingly popular courses on 'World English(es)'. Alamin Mazuri, The Ohio State University, USA
About Abram De Swaan
Abram de Swaan is Chairman of the Amsterdam School of Social Research (ASSR) at the University of Amsterdam.
Table of Contents
Preface. 1. Introduction: The Global Language System. 1.1 The Global Language System: a Galaxy of Languages. 1.2 A Historical Atlas of the World as a Language System. 1.3 Supercentral Constellations in the Present Language System. 1.4 Scope and Approach of the Book. 1.5 Plan of the Book. 2. The Political Economy of Language Constellations. 2.1 Languages as 'Hypercollective Goods'. 2.2 The Communication Potential of a Language: the Q-value. 3. Language, Culture and the Unequal Exchange of Texts. 3.1 Texts as Commodities in International Exchange. 3.2 Protectionism and Free Trade in Cultural Exchange. 3.3 Monoglossia, Polyglossia and Heteroglossia. 3.4 Discussion. 4. India: The Rivalry between Hindi and English. 4.1 Characterization of the Indian Constellation. 4.2 State Formation, Nation-Building and Language Unification. 4.3 The Vicissitudes of Language Policy in India. 4.4 Discussion. 5. The Triumph of Bahasa, Indonesia. 5.1 Gandhi's Dream. 5.2 The Rise of Malay. 5.3 The Demise of Dutch. 5.4 The Rejection of Javanese. 5.5 Discussion. 6. Africa: The Persistence of the Colonial Languages. 6.1 A Two by Three Comparison. 6.2 Three Francophone Constellations below the Sahara. 6.2.1 Rwanda, 6.2.2 Senegal, 6.2.3 Congo/Zaire. 6.3 Three English-Centered Constellations below the Sahara. 6.3.1 Botswana, 6.3.2 Tanzania, 6.3.3 Nigeria. 7. South Africa: The survival of the old language regime. 7.1 The language regime under Apartheid. 7.2 Language policy after Apartheid. 7.3 The dynamics of the constellation. 7.4 Discussion. 8. The European Union: The More Languages, the More English. 8.1 Civil Europe (1): Language Unification in National Constellations. 8.2 Civil Europe(2): Q-values in the European Union. 8.3 Institutional Europe (1): the Public Level. 8.4 Institutional Europe (2): the Bureaucracy. 8.5 Discussion. 9. Conclusions and Considerations. 9.1 Conclusions. 9.2 Considerations. Notes. References. Index.
Additional information
NPB9780745627489
9780745627489
074562748X
Words of the World: The Global Language System by Abram De Swaan
New
Paperback
Polity Press
20011119
272
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a new book - be the first to read this copy. With untouched pages and a perfect binding, your brand new copy is ready to be opened for the first time