(in Polish) Mniejszościowe wspólnoty językowe we współczesnych społeczeństwach 3200-L2-NS-MSpoł

The course addresses the following topics.

Introduction to Minority Language Communities

- Definition of minority language community;
- Analysis of the cultural and linguistic importance of minorities;
- History of minority language communities.

Multilingualism and Linguistic Diversity:

- Concepts of multilingualism in modern societies;
- Benefits and challenges of multilingualism;
- Role of linguistic diversity in identity formation.

Language Policies and Linguistic Rights:

- Examination of national and international language policies;
- In-depth study of linguistic rights of minorities;
- Case studies on successes and challenges in protecting linguistic rights.

Social Dynamics in Minority Language Communities:

- Analysis of internal social dynamics within minority communities;
- Role of language in social cohesion and inclusion;
- Impact of technology on the vitality of minority languages.

Media and Representation of Linguistic Minorities:

- Examination of media representation of minority language communities;
- Role of media in preserving or eroding minority languages;
- Strategies to improve positive representation.

Education and Minority Languages:

- Analysis of challenges in minority language education;
- In-depth exploration of revitalization initiatives in schools;
- Best practices in teaching minority languages.

Sustainability and the Future of Minority Languages:

- In-depth discussion of challenges to the survival of minority languages;
- Role of communities and institutions in linguistic sustainability;
- Future perspectives for minority language communities.

Conclusions and Perspectives:

- Summary of key themes addressed in the course;
- Discussion on future prospects for the preservation of minority languages;
- Practical actions to support minority language communities.

Type of course

elective courses

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

Before starting the classes, a student should demonstrate an interest in the subject of social entanglement in forms of language communication.

Course coordinators

Maciej Durkiewicz

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student:

(Knowledge)

Understands the essence of a minority language community and its impact on culture, society, and politics.
Is familiar with the history and development of minority language communities in Poland, Italy, and Switzerland.

(Skills)

Possesses the ability to analyze language policies at both national and international levels.
Has the capability to identify challenges related to the education and protection of minority languages.
Demonstrates the ability to plan actions for the sustainable future of minority languages.

(Social Competencies)

Is aware of the significance of linguistic diversity for social cohesion.
Possesses the ability to collaborate effectively within a group on projects related to the protection of minority languages.
Has the capacity to comprehend and accept diverse perspectives on the issues related to minority languages.

Assessment criteria

Credits are given on the basis of a written exam which tests knowledge acquired during the lectures.

Scale:
0−59% − 2
60−69% − 3
70−74% − 3+
75−84% − 4
85−89% − 4+
90−100% − 5

To be eligible to take the final exam, participation in classes is required, with a maximum of two unexcused absences allowed.

Active engagement in discussions during lectures, especially providing answers to the instructor's questions, results in a half-grade increase on the exam, provided the student achieves a minimum of 60% of the points.

Bibliography

Agarin, T., & Kuzio, T. (2015). Paradoxes of minority and majority integration in Italy and Ukraine. Europe-Asia Studies, 67(1), 89-112.
Bień, J., & Puzynina, J. (red.). (2019). Język polski i jego odmiany w perspektywie diachronicznej i synchronicznej. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
Brubaker, R. (2004). Ethnicity Without Groups. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Constitution of the Swiss Confederation. (1999). Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation. [Online] Available at: https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19995395/index.html
Fishman, J. A. (1991). Reversing Language Shift: Theoretical and Empirical Foundations of Assistance to Threatened Languages. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Fishman, J. A. (2001). Can Threatened Languages Be Saved? Reversing Language Shift, Revisited: A 21st Century Perspective. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Ginsburg, F., & Abu-Lughod, L. (eds.). (2002). Media Worlds: Anthropology on New Terrain. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Grenoble, L. A., & Whaley, L. J. (2006). Saving Languages: An Introduction to Language Revitalization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Grosjean, F. (2010). Bilingual: Life and Reality. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Heuberger, R. (2015). Language and identity in the Ladin valleys of South Tyrol: Language maintenance and shift in a multilingual region. Multilingua, 34(1), 59-89.
Hinton, L., & Hale, K. (eds.). (2001). The Green Book of Language Revitalization in Practice. San Diego: Academic Press.
Hornberger, N. H. (2002). Multilingual Language Policies and the Continua of Biliteracy: An Ecological Approach. Language Policy, 1(1), 27-51.
Iten, C., & Gadola, A. (Eds.). (2015). Romansh: One Language, Many Varieties / Rumantsch: Ina lingua, diversa variants. Berlin: De Gruyter.
Ludi, G., & Werlen, I. (2017). Linguistic diversity in Switzerland: Differentiation, stratification, and spatialization. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 38(3), 227-239.
May, S. (2012). Language and Minority Rights: Ethnicity, Nationalism, and the Politics of Language. New York: Routledge.
McCarty, T. L. (2011). Language Planning and Policy in Native America: History, Theory, Praxis. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
Mioni, A., & Pizzolato, N. (2015). Minority languages in Italy: From protection to rights? International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 231, 159-178.
Obracht-Prondzyński, C. (2015). Języki mniejszościowe w Polsce. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego.
Patten, A., & Kymlicka, W. (2003). Language Rights and Political Theory. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 23, 3-21.
Ricento, T. (ed.). (2006). An Introduction to Language Policy: Theory and Method. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Skutnabb-Kangas, T. (2000). Linguistic Genocide in Education, or Worldwide Diversity and Human Rights? Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Wei, L. (2018). Multilingualism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 3200-L2-NS-MSpoł in USOSweb