Language policies and 'new' migration in officially bilingual areas

Tunger, Verena, Mar-Molinero, Clare, Paffey, Darren, Vigers, Dick and Barɫóg, Cecilia (2010) Language policies and 'new' migration in officially bilingual areas. Current Issues in Language Planning, 11 (2), 190-205. (doi:10.1080/14664208.2010.505074).

Abstract

This paper explores the implications of new patterns of migration (temporary, circular) for national and regional language policies in officially bilingual areas. Contrasting urban and rural sites in the UK (Wales), Spain (Valencia) and Switzerland (Grisons), it examines the dominant discourses regarding 'national' (both in the formal state and contested regional sense of the word) languages and their role in the integration of immigrants. Furthermore, it shows how bi- or multi-lingual contexts in areas where two (or three) official languages already compete impact on migrants' expectations vis-agrave-vis language competences, attitudes towards local language learning and actual learning practices. It also investigates whether migrants' multi-lingual repertoires are taken into account for official language planning initiatives. In contrasting the dominant discourse about integration, governmental requirements and the existing language-learning provision with migrants' perspectives on their actual linguistic behaviour, we seek to determine alternative strategies for linguistic provision that may respond to new types of migration and might incorporate a more holistic, socio-cultural approach.

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Contributors

Author: Darren Paffey

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