Minority Language Revitalisation and Regulation

Examines the promotion, protection and regulation of official language minorities

• Provides an authoritative treatment from an experienced language strategist who has advised governments in the UK, Ireland, the EU, Canada and RSA
• Presents unique data derived from many interviews with politicians, senior public servants, community representatives and academics
• Draws on case studies from the Basque Autonomous Community, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Finland, Catalonia and Canada
• Includes discussion of language commissioners together with detailed explication of their investigation and complaints handling procedures
• Takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on the sociology of language, public policy, law, political science and geography

Through careful and systematic analysis of policy documents and data from a vast range of interviews with politicians, senior public servants, community representatives and academics, this book sheds light on the way in which different jurisdictions manage the process of implementing measures and legislation to enhance the vitality of selected languages and their speakers.

Drawing on case studies from the Basque Autonomous Community, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Finland, Catalonia and Canada and the author’s first-hand experience as a language strategist who has advised governments in the UK, Ireland, the EU, Canada and RSA, the book brings language policy to life through close engagement with the stories and narratives of people who shape policy decisions. This provides real understanding of the mechanics of regulation in minority language policy and how it is taken up and implemented (or not) and why this happens.