Linguistic conflict and normalization: valid concepts for public policies?

Abstract

Language policies in the Catalan-speaking area have focused on the concept of linguistic normalization, understood as overcoming language conflict with the reversal of the process of language shift. The text examines the extent to which the idea of linguistic conflict has been and is still present in public policies, and how linguistic normalization policies have been related to it. Lastly, the author assesses what may be understood as linguistic normality or equality in a multilingual context such as the current one.

Keywords: language policy; language conflict; linguistic normalization; language shift; linguistic equality.