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Planning for multilingualism and minority language rights in Sweden

Hult, Francis LU (2004) In Language Policy 3(2). p.181-201
Abstract
As the presence of English in Europe continues to grow, there is a mounting interest in the position of national languages among European institutions, societies, and people. Swedish, like many national languages in Europe and throughout the world, is in an awkward position. It is at the same time a strong national language with the potential to dominate other languages within national borders and a potentially dominated language with respect to English as an international language. Sweden is currently faced with balancing this delicate position in its language policies. This paper explores recent developments in status planning, particularly with respect to language rights, for Sweden’s five recognized national minorities and their... (More)
As the presence of English in Europe continues to grow, there is a mounting interest in the position of national languages among European institutions, societies, and people. Swedish, like many national languages in Europe and throughout the world, is in an awkward position. It is at the same time a strong national language with the potential to dominate other languages within national borders and a potentially dominated language with respect to English as an international language. Sweden is currently faced with balancing this delicate position in its language policies. This paper explores recent developments in status planning, particularly with respect to language rights, for Sweden’s five recognized national minorities and their languages. Swedish minority language issues are situated in sociohistorical context and recent language policy initiatives are analyzed. It is suggested that Swedish policy trends are moving towards fostering societal multilingualism. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Sweden, Sami, Romani, minority rights, Meänkieli, linguistic rights, language minorities, English, Finnish, Swedish, Yiddish
in
Language Policy
volume
3
issue
2
pages
181 - 201
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:18244399353
ISSN
1568-4555
DOI
10.1023/B:LPOL.0000036182.40797.23
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
143ccab4-757a-43f0-aff7-14d1b3acf4b1 (old id 133441)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:55:05
date last changed
2022-02-20 22:34:06
@article{143ccab4-757a-43f0-aff7-14d1b3acf4b1,
  abstract     = {{As the presence of English in Europe continues to grow, there is a mounting interest in the position of national languages among European institutions, societies, and people. Swedish, like many national languages in Europe and throughout the world, is in an awkward position. It is at the same time a strong national language with the potential to dominate other languages within national borders and a potentially dominated language with respect to English as an international language. Sweden is currently faced with balancing this delicate position in its language policies. This paper explores recent developments in status planning, particularly with respect to language rights, for Sweden’s five recognized national minorities and their languages. Swedish minority language issues are situated in sociohistorical context and recent language policy initiatives are analyzed. It is suggested that Swedish policy trends are moving towards fostering societal multilingualism.}},
  author       = {{Hult, Francis}},
  issn         = {{1568-4555}},
  keywords     = {{Sweden; Sami; Romani; minority rights; Meänkieli; linguistic rights; language minorities; English; Finnish; Swedish; Yiddish}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{181--201}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Language Policy}},
  title        = {{Planning for multilingualism and minority language rights in Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:LPOL.0000036182.40797.23}},
  doi          = {{10.1023/B:LPOL.0000036182.40797.23}},
  volume       = {{3}},
  year         = {{2004}},
}