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Realist Social Theory and Multilingualism in Europe

Realist Social Theory and Multilingualism in Europe This paper outlines a theoretical approach to multilingualism in Europe that draws on recent work in realist social theory (RST). It sets out the key concepts of culture, structure and agency, and develops a view of language as a cultural emergent property ­ that is, as an outcome of the dynamic interplay between these ontological components of the world. The paper provides an indication of the relevance of these ideas for language policy and planning in Europe and explores the methodological implications of our particular account of RST. It also provides an introduction to the subsequent papers, which discuss empirical examples of various European contexts where multilingualism is a feature. Keywords: Archer, realist social theory, multilingualism, language policy Zusammenfassung: Dieser Beitrag entwirft einen Ansatz zur Analyse von Mehrsprachigkeit in Europa im Licht neuer Entwicklungen der Realist Social Theory (RST). Er bestimmt die Kernbegriffe Kultur, Struktur und Handeln und zeigt Sprache als emergentes Ergebnis des dynamischen Zusammenspiels dieser ontologischen Grundgrößen der Welt. Deutlich werden die Bedeutung eines solchen Ansatzes für die Sprachenpolitik und -planung in Europa; deutlich wird aber auch, was ein RST-Ansatz methodologisch voraussetzt. Schließlich führt der Beitrag in die weiteren Beiträge des Hefts ein, die Fallstudien von http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png European Journal of Applied Linguistics de Gruyter

Realist Social Theory and Multilingualism in Europe

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Publisher
de Gruyter
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 by the
ISSN
2192-9521
eISSN
2192-953X
DOI
10.1515/eujal-2015-0006
Publisher site
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Abstract

This paper outlines a theoretical approach to multilingualism in Europe that draws on recent work in realist social theory (RST). It sets out the key concepts of culture, structure and agency, and develops a view of language as a cultural emergent property ­ that is, as an outcome of the dynamic interplay between these ontological components of the world. The paper provides an indication of the relevance of these ideas for language policy and planning in Europe and explores the methodological implications of our particular account of RST. It also provides an introduction to the subsequent papers, which discuss empirical examples of various European contexts where multilingualism is a feature. Keywords: Archer, realist social theory, multilingualism, language policy Zusammenfassung: Dieser Beitrag entwirft einen Ansatz zur Analyse von Mehrsprachigkeit in Europa im Licht neuer Entwicklungen der Realist Social Theory (RST). Er bestimmt die Kernbegriffe Kultur, Struktur und Handeln und zeigt Sprache als emergentes Ergebnis des dynamischen Zusammenspiels dieser ontologischen Grundgrößen der Welt. Deutlich werden die Bedeutung eines solchen Ansatzes für die Sprachenpolitik und -planung in Europa; deutlich wird aber auch, was ein RST-Ansatz methodologisch voraussetzt. Schließlich führt der Beitrag in die weiteren Beiträge des Hefts ein, die Fallstudien von

Journal

European Journal of Applied Linguistics – de Gruyter

Published: Mar 1, 2015

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