Language policy and language planning : from nationalism to globalisation

Language allows humans to act cooperatively, to plan and to remember. It is the prime factor in the constitution of groups as well as a major barrier between groups. Language policy and planning is rarely just about language; it always has political, social and ethical dimensions. This is a comprehensive advanced textbook, covering not only language learning imposed by economic or political agendas but also language choices entered into freely for reasons of social mobility, economic advantage or group identity.