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Bok nr. 14 Elites, Language, and the Politics of Identity
The Norwegian Case in Comparative Perspective
Gregg Bucken-Knapp
Pris: 150,-
Utgjevingsår: 2003
Why and when do linguistic cleavages within a nation become politicized? Using Norway - where language has played a particularly salient role in the nation`s history - as a case study, Gregg Bucken-Knapp explores these questions and challenges the nation that the politicization of language conflict is a response to language problems. He shows that political elites often view language conflict as a political opportunity, placing it on the policy agenda as an effective mobilizing tool to serve their own nonlinguistic political ends. Although language-oriented interest groups may fight to achieve desired language policies, they are generally unsuccessful when their preferences clash with the broader objectives of political elites. This book focuses on understanding just how language policies emerge.
"A fresh and original look at the Norwegian language situation with comparison to other linguistic communities. It should be of interest not only to scholars and students of Norwegian history and culture but also to all those interested in the interrelationship of language, politics, and society."
- Solveig Zempel, editor and translator of In Their Own Words: Letters from Norwegian Immigrants.
"Bucken-Knapp`s analysis of language politics provides many new insights, opens up the field for new research, and contributes to our understanding of the driving forces behind Norwegian language policy in its different phases. A refreshing and needed renewal of the scientific treatment of the internal Norwegian language struggle and official language planning policy."
- Lars S. Vikør, author of The Nordic Languages: Their Status and Interrelations.
Gregg Bucken-Knapp is Researcher in the Department of Political Science at Göteborg University and the coeditor (with Michael Schack) of Borders Matter: Transboundary Regions in Contemporary Europe.
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