Language policy evaluation and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

Abstract:

This work concentrates on the implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and is intended as a practical tool for users, particularly civil servants, officers of NGOs, or scholars involved in language planning matters.

The book is organised in four parts containing a total of ten chapters. The first part comprises the introductory chapter and chapter two which addresses the question of what 'language policy' is. Chapter three opens the second part and looks closely at the Charter, while chapter four examines the practical problems and the difficulties encountered in monitoring. Part three covers applications, with chapter five exploring the nature of policy and legal issues, and chapters six to eight providing a closer examination of the three criteria - effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and democracy. Chapter nine presents a checklist of issues that language planners are likely to encounter. The general conclusion is given in chapter ten which comprises part four of the book.

The work will interest students, scholars and administrators engaged in language planning policy, ethnicity, culture and identity.

François Grin is Professor of Economics at the Institute of Translation and Interpretation of the University of Geneva and Adjunct Director of the Education Research Unit.