Speak not : empire, identity and the politics of language / James Griffiths.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Griffiths, James, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Language and languages--Political aspects.

Language and languages.

Globalization--Social aspects.

Globalization.

Sociolinguistics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (272 pages).

Distribution:

[London, England] : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021

Place of Publication:

London, England : Zed Books, 2021.

Summary:

"As globalisation continues languages are disappearing faster than ever, leaving our planet's linguistic diversity leaping towards extinction. The science of how languages are acquired is becoming more advanced and the internet is bringing us new ways of teaching the next generation, however it is increasingly challenging for minority languages to survive in the face of a handful of hegemonic 'super-tongues'. In Speak Not , James Griffiths reports from the frontlines of the battle to preserve minority languages, from his native Wales, Hawaii and indigenous American nations, to southern China and Hong Kong. He explores the revival of the Welsh language as a blueprint for how to ensure new generations are not robbed of their linguistic heritage, outlines how loss of indigenous languages is the direct result of colonialism and globalisation and examines how technology is both hindering and aiding the fight to prevent linguistic extinction. Introducing readers to compelling characters and examining how indigenous communities are fighting for their languages, Griffiths ultimately explores how languages hang on, what happens when they don't, and how indigenous tongues can be preserved and brought back from the brink."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

EPIGRAPH

INTRODUCTION

PART ONE: WELSH

1. Blue Books

2. Fire and Fury

3. Signs of Change

4. Bilingual Nation INTERLUDE: AFRI-CAN'T PART TWO: HAWAIIAN

5. The Princess Who Was Promised

6. Sandwiched Islands

7. I Mua Kamehameha

8. Ke Ea Hawaii

9. Road Closed Due to Desecration INTERLUDE: THE OLD, NEW TONGUE PART THREE: CANTONESE

10. Dialectics

11. A Chinese Alphabet

12. Common Tongue

13. 'Cantonese Gives You Nasal Cancer'

14. Sounds of Separatism

15. Language Plateau

EPILOGUE

AUTHOR'S NOTE

NOTES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781350237865

1350237868

9781786999665

1786999668

OCLC:

1241539653