Scientific article
English

European Economic Integration and the Fate of Lesser-Used Languages

ContributorsGrin, Françoisorcid
Published inLanguage problems & language planning, vol. 17, no. 2, p. 101-116
Publication date1993
Abstract

European economic integration already affects major domains of public and private life, and the much-publicized "internal market program" can only reinforce this trend. This paper examines the consequences of economic integration for Europe's lesser-used languages. Results from an international trade model and a time allocation model are used to show that the intensification of intra-EC trade and the expected increase in income will have different effects on different minority languages. Applying these theoretical predictions to a set of twelve European minority languages, this paper shows that five of them are likely to find themselves in a more favourable situation, and four stand to lose as a result of economic integration, while no clear effect can be predicted for the remaining three. These results can help in assessing which minority languages will need particular care and attention through maintenance and promotion programs in order to thrive in a more integrated Europe.

Keywords
  • European integration
  • Lesser-used languages
  • Minority language
  • Language policy
  • Language survival
Citation (ISO format)
GRIN, François. European Economic Integration and the Fate of Lesser-Used Languages. In: Language problems & language planning, 1993, vol. 17, n° 2, p. 101–116. doi: 10.1075/lplp.17.2.01gri
Main files (1)
Article (Accepted version)
accessLevelRestricted
Identifiers
Journal ISSN0272-2690
647views
3downloads

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