A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Language Making of Creoles in multilingual postcolonial societies
Authors: Krämer Philipp, Mijts Eric, Bartens Angela
Publisher: De Gruyter
Publishing place: Berlin
Publication year: 2022
Journal: International Journal of the Sociology of Language
Journal acronym: IJSL
Volume: 2022
Issue: 274
First page : 51
Last page: 82
eISSN: 1613-3668
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ijsl-2021-0018
Web address : https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/ijsl-2021-0018/html
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/73964760
This article investigates Language Making processes in multilingual postcolonial societies where Creole languages are spoken. It raises the question whether or not Language Making in these settings differs from other contexts given the historical preconditions and social, economic, or political inequalities which persist after the colonial period. The paper discusses the potentials of Language Making to support or impede efforts of decolonization. With the help of examples from several Creole-speaking societies, it shows different approaches to conceptualizing Creole languages as linguistic entities with the creation or emergence of norms, different naming strategies or through language policy and planning. It examines the potential contribution of different agents of Language Making and illustrates cases in which Language Making is countered or languages are un-made. As a conclusion, the article shows that the concept of Language Making may need further expansion or nuancing in order to avoid a “Northern” or “Western” bias.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |