What are just language policies? The current paradigms of linguistic justice (DOI: 10.2436/20.3000.02.56)

Authors

  • Sergi Morales-Gálvez University of Limerick
  • Elvira Riera-Gil Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Keywords:

political theory, language policy, linguistic justice, linguistic instrumentalism, linguistic territorialism, linguistic pluralism, self-government, Catalonia.

Abstract

Within the framework of political theory and political philosophy, theories of linguistic justice aim at establishing universal principles in order to determine what just language policies are, and, at the same time, supply tools for the analysis and assessment of existing language policies according to the principles considered. These theories identify values and interests derived from languages and propose ways to fairly distribute interests. This article presents, firstly, the current paradigms of linguistic justice: their philosophical framework, the main contemporary theories (linguistic instrumentalism, territorialism and pluralism) and the patterns for organising linguistic diversity suggested by these theories. Secondly, it offers a critical analysis focused on three points identified as theoretical deficits, namely a lack of attention to the relational dimension of language, a dichotomist view of communication and identity as values associated with languages, and the underestimation of the relevance of empirical contexts in both the conception and application of theoretical frameworks. Finally, it proposes a contextual approach to the case of Catalonia, paying attention to the relationship between language policy and self-government.

Key words: political theory, language policy, linguistic justice, linguistic instrumentalism, linguistic territorialism, linguistic pluralism, self-government, Catalonia.

Original source: Revista d'Estudis Autonòmics i Federals, 30: 25-56 (2017).

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Published

2021-11-25

Issue

No. 11 (2021)

Section

Sociology

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