This revised second edition is a comprehensive overview of why we speak the languages that we do. It covers language learning imposed by political and economic agendas as well as language choices entered into willingly for reasons of social mobility, economic advantage and group identity.

The book examines the changing relationship between minority languages and language policy and planning in the context of globalization, through an examination of the Irish language context. It demonstrates how localized practices are involved in the refashioning of the value of the Irish language.

The book examines the changing relationship between minority languages and language policy and planning in the context of globalization, through an examination of the Irish language context. It demonstrates how localized practices are involved in the refashioning of the value of the Irish language.

Language policy and planning is rarely just about language; it always has political, social and ethical dimensions. This is a comprehensive advanced textbook, covering not only language learning imposed by economic or political agendas, but also language choices entered into freely for reasons of social mobility, economic advantage or group identity. The first part of the book reviews the development and role of standard languages in the construction of national communities and identities. The second part examines the linguistic accommodation of groups in contact, major lingua francas and the case of "International English". The third section explores reactions to nationalism and globalization, with some attention to language rights.

The book examines the changing relationship between minority languages and language policy and planning in the context of globalization, through an examination of the Irish language context. It demonstrates how localized practices are involved in the refashioning of the value of the Irish language.

In the sociopolitics of language, sometimes yesterday’s solution is tomorrow’s problem. This volume examines the evolving nature of language acquisition planning through a collection of papers that consider how decisions about language learning and teaching are mediated by a confluence of psychological, ideological, and historical forces. The first two parts of the volume feature empirical studies of formal and informal education across the lifespan and around the globe. Case studies map the agents, resources, and attitudes needed for creating moments and spaces for language learning that may, at times, collide with wider beliefs and policies that privilege some languages over others. The third part of the volume is devoted to conceptual contributions that take up theoretical issues related to epistemological and conceptual challenges for language acquisition planning. These contributions reflect on the full spectrum of social and cognitive factors that intersect with the planning of language teaching and learning including ethnic and racial power relations, historically situated political systems, language ideologies, community language socialization, relationships among stakeholders in communities and schools, interpersonal interaction, and intrapersonal development. In all, the volume demonstrates the multifaceted and socially situated nature of language acquisition planning.

This first book provides a comprehensive overview of the different levels of players who have been involved in both intended and unintended language planning and policy, and shows how they have impacted multilingual language use. Specifically, it looks at the roles of different 'glo-national' (global national) players in directing the choices of language use in various parts of the world. Drawing on topics from numerous countries i.e., Basque country, Brazil, China, Europe, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, North Korea, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America, this book showcases the complexity of language planning. The book not only provides examples to illustrate how globalisation has led to an increase in demand in learning English in many countries, it brings in other examples to demonstrate how globalisation has also promoted language diversity in other countries as well. Using the four stages of language planning framework - Supra Macro, Macro, Micro and Infra Micro levels of language planning, the book discusses the tension that surrounds the global, national and local demands on language choice, and presents the possible outcomes of the various intended and unintended policies, and strategies adopted by the different players found in these four stages of planning. The aim of the book is to highlight the importance of aligning the supra and macro levels of planning with the micro and infra macro levels of planning in any language planning in order to obtain positive outcomes.