This paper discusses the protection of linguistic rights, focusing on the constitutional and legal experience in Europe. It addresses state plurilingualism, then examines general principles (the legal status of languages, equality, and multilingualism in representative institutions). Next, it discusses recognition of linguistic rights (the right…

Explored preschoolers' inferences about language and group membership. Found preschoolers believe minorities and people with unfamiliar clothing/dwellings are more likely to speak a foreign language; do not map social group differences to language for all categories; do not derive inferences from intelligibility; and identify common property in…

Describes how Estonian language and literature have been taught at Russian-language schools in Estonia. Notes a lack of interesting reading materials, and describes how this instruction could be improved. (SR)

An El Paso principal recounts her experience serving newly arrived Hispanic families and their children. Although highly motivated, recent immigrants may face special challenges that can affect their children's academic success. Principals can lesson intimidation by warmly welcoming families and can remove language/cultural barriers by providing…

A framework for analyzing the educational attainment of culturally and linguistically diverse students highlights ways in which power relations influence the negotiation of identity. Teacher-student interactions either reinforce coercive relations or promote collaborative ones. Ignoring the intersections of power and pedagogy reinforces coercive…

Explores commonalities between deaf children and children with English as an additional language in terms of discrimination, communication environments, and effects of mainstreaming. Examines the special needs of deaf children who are also ethnic and linguistic minorities. (SK)

Applies the concept of indigenous rights to language preservation through exploration of other European language debates in the western hemisphere, and provides general background on the ways in which Native-American languages have been suppressed and devalued. The experiences of the Kuna nation of Panama in reintroducing their native language are…

Examines some intergenerational changes in subordination (conditionals and subjunctive clauses) in a Cajun French community, exploring the gradual loss of nonindicative moods and the abandonment of finite clauses in subjunctive contexts in favor of innovative nonfinite clause types via a continuum of variation. (Author/MSE)

Used data from the National Education Longitudinal Study to examine the relationships among first language (not English), maintenance of that home language, English proficiency, and academic achievement. Results do not support speculation that home language proficiency would have persistent negative effects on English and other academic outcomes…

Investigates the relative significance of family collectivism and minority languages as possible core values among four ethnic groups in the context of Australian society in which the English language and social structures of the majority group are dominant. Respondents were young adults drawn from Greek, Latvian, Italian, and Chinese-Australian…

An ethic of caring assumes that all children have the right to education that affirms their identity while preparing them for life. Bilingual education can be the bridge between schools' socializing role and the formation of cultural identity for language minority students. (SK)

Describes the Romani (Gypsy) culture and refutes some stereotypes about this ethnic group. Discusses ways to improve educational opportunities for Romani children, whose culture has been wary of conventional public education and describes the importance of the Internet for Romani-American communication. (SLD)

Examines the impact of nationalism on the linguistic rights of Deaf communities. Explores the subtle hegemony of nationalism in relation to linguistic minorities, and discusses the impact of nationalism on sign languages from two perspectives in two contrasting situations. (Author/VWL)

Concerns current transformation in the relationship between political and linguistic ideologies of la francophonie based on a sociolinguistic ethnographic study in a French-language minority school in Canada. (Author/VWL)

Describes the Academia Mayor de la Lengua Quechua, a Peruvian institution ostensibly dedicated to maintaining Quechua. Data from writings by and about the Academia and from administrator interviews suggest that the institution shows signs of an ambivalent and potentially conflictive attitude toward the Peruvian state and Quechua speakers, and this…