ACQI 3
02.11.2015
Lena Apfel
-May, Stephen (2006) “Language Policy and Minority Rights”, in Ricento, Thomas (eds): An Introduction to
Language Policy, New York; Blackwell, pp.225-227
-Kymlicka, Will (2001)”Western Political Theory and Ethnic Relations in Eastern Europe”, in Kymlicka, Will,
Opalski, Magda (eds.) Can Liberal Pluralism be Exported?, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.13 – 103
1. Central Question: “Following from this, if languages, and the status attached to them, are the
product of wider historical, social and political forces, there is, in turn, nothing “natural” about the
status and prestige attributed to particular majority languages and, conversely, the stigma that is
often attached to particular majority languages, or dialects. “ (May, 2006, p.260)
2. Arguments: The increasing language shift and loss of minority languages in particular reflect power
relations between the social, economical and political status of the speakers. Dying languages are
most often the languages of politically and socially isolated minorities. The relatively new strive for
cultural and linguistic homogeneity emerged with the nationalism and the belief of nation-state
congruence between citizenship and identity. In the process of deliberate selection of a national
language minority languages got the image of less functionality, tradition and sentimentality. The use
of minority languages is therefore restricted to the private domain and is seen as disadvantageous
for social and economic mobility. The promotion of Minority language rights enhances equality of
chances for members of linguistic minorities, and reflects the plural and multicultural structure of
most nation-states.
3. Question: The author states the increasing shift towards majority languages as a first language for
minority members. Should we therefore promote only still widely used minority languages to
prevent further death of languages? Or might a formal recognition of almost “dead” languages and
promotion to learn these actually give the possibility to reinstate the political and social position of
some minorities?
4. Experiential Connection: The described loss of functionality of minority languages is inevitable, if the
usage of these languages is restricted to private use only. This reduces the used vocabulary,
especially in matters of science and art. Moreover, the evolution of the language itself is hindered to
follow technological, but also social and cultural developments. These insufficiencies will lead to
even less use of minority languages.
5. Textual Connection: “Given the spread of standardized and compulsory education, the high
demands for literacy on work, and widespread interaction with government agencies, any language
which is not a public language becomes so marginalized that it is likely to survive only amongst a
small elite, or in a ritualized form, or in isolated rural areas, not as a living and developing language
underlying a flourishing culture. “ (Kymlicka, 2001, p.17-18). This argument underlines how the
designation of a public language does not only affect public life, but changes all the other spoken
languages in the nation-state. The development of these languages is stopped, and the number of
speakers decreases.
6. Implications: The further recognition and acceptance of minority languages requires an instrument
or legislation of classifying linguistic minorities. Attributes have to be defined, which determine if a
group can claim equal rights for their language, as not every minority language can be promoted.
Political discussions then have to determine which this attributes are- whether it is the size of the
minority population, its political power, the grade of economic and social isolation or others.
AQCI ASSESSMENT FORM
Student’s
name:
Lena Apfel
Essay title:
AQCI 3
Name of
assessor:
Excel
lent
1) Is the chosen quotation central to the
author’s argument?
Go
od
Date:
Aver
age
Po
or
Not
accept
able
02.11.2015
Comments
x
x
2) Has the main argument been fully
understood (including its ‘for’ and
‘against’ sides, if applicable)?
x
3a) Is the question raised
important/relevant/interesting?
3b) Has this question not been fully
answered in the text?
x
x
4) Is the experiential connection
relevant/interesting?
x
5a) Is the textual connection
relevant/interesting?
5b) Has it been cited properly?
5c) Has it been adequately explained
how the present text's argument
contrasts with, contradicts, confirms,
clarifies, or elaborates the other text's
argument or point?
x
x
x
6) Have the implications been well
understood, can they have a practical
impact for policy making?
7) Expression/Presentation
a) Are the style, grammar and general
use of English adequate?
b) Is the AQCI professionally presented?
Essay grade:
Further comments:
x
x
As I don’t have any
personal experiences with
this subject, I refered to
“common sense”