Abstract

This book analyses the concept of language allegiances, and, more broadly, language-based identities in a multilingual society such as the US. The guiding theme of the chapters that comprise this volume is the identification of specific beliefs and attitudes towards language, and how these lead to particular actions in the spheres of language ideology, legal litigation, educational agendas, political strategies and cultural identities. The authors share the idea that, whether it is based on reality or a perception of reality, there is a privileged connection between language and identity.

This book offers a well-made selection of illuminating perspectives on the relation between language and identity in the United States. The contributors - an all-star cast - study the conditions under which beliefs and attitudes towards language are produced and survey the roles they play and effects they have within the fields of culture, education, and politics. With this volume, the sociology of language takes a step forward in its long-standing effort to produce a coherent articulation of language and politics as an object of research.

The chapters in the book are engaging, critical and current, in that they present the political and social discourses at the micro and macro level - something to imbue our thinking.

M. Rafael Salaberry (PhD, Cornell University) is Professor of Second Language Acquisition in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese (University of Texas-Austin). Prof. Salaberryâ??s research focuses on (1) the development of tense and aspect among adult second language learners, (2) second language teaching, including methodology, testing and web-based learning and (3) bilingual education. His research is presented in several books published by John Benjamins (2000, 2002, 2005), Georgetown University Press (2003, 2006) and Continuum Press (2008) as well as several articles in peer-refereed journals. He is also the producer of the documentary film "??The Choosers"?? (2006) on two-way bilingual education.