Official Language Regimes: Transformation and Innovation

This volume has two aims: first, to interpret long-term structural/systemic transformations in the maturation of a specific type of language regime (those with a majoritarian state language and an officially designated minority language); and secondly, to identify and evaluate instances of good practice policy interventions which strengthen the promotion, protection and regulation of selected target languages in Western Europe and Canada. The interviews and documentary analysis within the book were carried out in eight jurisdictions ranging from Canada to Catalonia together with several international organisations and networks, and together they provide an authoritative set of insights into the process of constructing and managing such regimes. This book will be of interest to readers in a variety of fields, including Sociolinguistics, Language Policy, Human Geography, Multilingualism, Regional Development Planning, Celtic and European Studies.

Colin H. Williams is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Welsh at Cardiff University and VHI Senior Research Associate at St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge, UK.