Linguistic Diversity and Social Justice: An Introduction to Applied Sociolinguistics

by Ingrid Piller

Understanding and addressing linguistic disadvantage must be a central facet of the social justice agenda of our time. This book explores the ways in which linguistic diversity mediates social justice in liberal democracies undergoing rapid change due to high levels of migration and economic globalization. Focusing on the linguistic dimensions of economic inequality, cultural domination and imparity of political participation, Linguistic Diversity and Social Justice employs a case-study approach to real-world instances of linguistic injustice. Linguistic diversity is a universal characteristic of human language but linguistic diversity is rarely neutral; rather it is accompanied by linguistic stratification and linguistic subordination. Domains critical to social justice include employment, education, and community participation. The book offers a detailed examination of the connection between linguistic diversity and inequality in these specific contexts within nation states
that are organized as liberal democracies. Inequalities exist not only between individuals and groups within a state but also between states. Therefore, the book also explores the role of linguistic diversity in global injustice with a particular focus on the spread of English as a global language. While much of the analysis in this book focuses on language as a means of exclusion, discrimination and disadvantage, the concluding chapter asks what the content of linguistic justice might be.

Genres: Linguistics, Nonfiction, Language, Academic, Race

296 pages, Hardcover

Published March 22, 2016

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do issues like regional/foreign accent, language choice, and language policy have to do with issues like equality and discrimination with respect to race, ethnicity, and gender? This book explores this set of questions in considerable depth, yet remains completely accessible to the non-linguist. I would recommend this book especially to (1) teachers of linguistics who would like to incorporate some discussion of social justice into the classroom, and (2) anyone curious what linguistics has to do with the "real world".

[Karen Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the past half century or so we have been cycling our attention through specific groups of people who previously weren't properly acknowledged, given access to needed resources, or accorded equal rights - going from African-Americans and other minority groups, to women, to people with disabilities, to people identifying as LGBT. This book outlines an agenda for the next such group - people subject to language discrimination.

The book is written from an Australian point of view, but it cites examples from many parts of the world. If the book has a weakness, it's perhaps that it sometimes fails to tell the other side of the story, e.g. why East Asians have so much trouble with English (hint: they generally receive negligible listening and pronunciation training in English classes in school). But Piller argues her case strongly and convincingly. Highly recommended.

[Antoinette Van Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book I was unable to finish, but don't foresee myself actually completing for a while to come. Unlike the other books that informed my Capstone project this semester, this book was a cohesive work written long-form by one author, rather than a collection of subject-related essays. Piller approached the subject of equity in its many expressions and many locations around the globe, which served to show the pervasiveness of racism in modern society— particularly as connects to language use and associated, internalized perceptions of that communication. So very, very applicable.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable. Lots of great information and insights.