Understanding and addressing linguistic disadvantage must be a central facet of the social justice agenda of our time. This book explores the ways in which linguistic diversity mediates social justice in liberal democracies undergoing rapid change due to high levels of migration and economic globalization. Focusing on the linguistic dimensions of economic inequality, cultural domination and imparity of political participation, Linguistic Diversity and Social Justice employs a case-study approach to real-world instances of linguistic injustice. Linguistic diversity is a universal characteristic of human language but linguistic diversity is rarely neutral; rather it is accompanied by linguistic stratification and linguistic subordination. Domains critical to social justice include employment, education, and community participation. The book offers a detailed examination of the connection between linguistic diversity and inequality in these specific contexts within nation states that are organized as liberal democracies. Inequalities exist not only between individuals and groups within a state but also between states. Therefore, the book also explores the role of linguistic diversity in global injustice with a particular focus on the spread of English as a global language. While much of the analysis in this book focuses on language as a means of exclusion, discrimination and disadvantage, the concluding chapter asks what the content of linguistic justice might be.

About the Author
Ingrid Piller is Professor of Applied Linguistics at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Her research expertise is in Intercultural Communication, the Sociolinguistics of Language Learning and Multilingualism, and Bilingual Education. She serves as editor-in-chief of the international sociolinguistics journal Multilingua and curates the sociolinguistics portal Language on the Move.

Reviews
This excellent book provides much-needed reading for those interested in linguistic injustice, but also for anyone involved in the business, study or teaching of language. * Ruanni Tupas, National Institute of Education, Singapore, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development. *
Pillers introduction to applied sociolinguistics is an outstanding addition to the growing body of work on language and people on the move. * Peter I. De Costa, Language in Society *
The book offers a thorough and powerful analysis of how language-related issues stand in relation to injustice and discrimination. Todays globalized world might celebrate linguistic diversity rhetorically, but the author shows that reality is quite different one of systemic inequality and disadvantage Piller has the experience and expertise to write a volume such as this one, and she has done an amazing and thorough job. The book constitutes an important contribution to language related issues and social justice correlation in todays globalized world. * International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism *
This text is an excellent introduction to how language is connected to local and global power structures. * Mary Hudgens Henderson, LINGUIST List *


Awards
Winner of Winner of the Language and Linguistics PROSE Award Winner of the 2017 BAAL Book Prize.



Book Information
ISBN 9780199937240
Author Ingrid Piller
Format Hardback
Page Count 296
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 516g
Dimensions(mm) 145mm * 218mm * 23mm