Language and the Law (Paperback)

Douglas A. Kibbee

ISBN 10: 1107623111 / ISBN 13: 9781107623118

Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2016

About this Item

Paperback. Language policy is a topic of growing importance around the world, as issues such as the recognition of linguistic diversity, the establishment of official languages, the status of languages in educational systems, the status of heritage and minority languages, and speakers' legal rights have come increasingly to the forefront. One fifth of the American population do not speak English as their first language. While race, gender and religious discrimination are recognized as illegal, the US does not currently accord the same protections regarding language; discrimination on the basis of language is accepted, and even promoted, in the name of unity and efficiency. Setting language within the context of America's history, this book explores the diverse range of linguistic inequalities, covering voting, criminal and civil justice, education, government and public services, and the workplace, and considers how linguistic differences challenge our fundamental ideals of democracy, justice and fairness. This book explores how linguistic inequality affects the basic concepts of democracy, justice and fairness in the United States. It will interest sociolinguists working on language policy, students and scholars of ethnic studies, and legal scholars exploring how language issues intersect with the law. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781107623118

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Language and the Law (Paperback)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
• Publication Date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1107623111
• ISBN 13: 9781107623118
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Language policy is a topic of growing importance around the world, as issues such as the recognition of linguistic diversity, the establishment of official languages, the status of languages in educational systems, the status of heritage and minority languages, and speakers' legal rights have come increasingly to the forefront. One fifth of the American population do not speak English as their first language. While race, gender and religious discrimination are recognized as illegal, the US does not currently accord the same protections regarding language; discrimination on the basis of language is accepted, and even promoted, in the name of unity and efficiency. Setting language within the context of America's history, this book explores the diverse range of linguistic inequalities, covering voting, criminal and civil justice, education, government and public services, and the workplace, and considers how linguistic differences challenge our fundamental ideals of democracy, justice and fairness.

About the Author

Douglas A. Kibbee is Professor Emeritus in the Department of French at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He is the author of For to Speke Frenche Trewely (1991), co-author of French: A Linguistic Introduction (Cambridge, 2006) and editor of Language Legislation and Linguistic Rights (1998).