This book addresses the meanings and implications of multilingualism and its uses in a context of rapid changes, in Europe and around the world. All types of organisations, including the political institutions of the European Union, universities and private-sector companies must rise to the many challenges posed by operating in a multilingual environment. This requires them, in particular, to make the best use of speakers very diverse linguistic repertoires.
The contributions in this volume, which stem from the DYLAN research project financed by the European Commission as part of its Sixth Framework Programme, examine at close range how these repertoires develop, how they change and how actors adapt skilfully the use of their repertoires to different objectives and conditions. These different strategies are also examined in terms of their capacity to ensure efficient and fair communication in a multilingual Europe.
Careful observation of actors multilingual practices reveals finely tuned communicational strategies drawing on a wide range of different languages, including national languages, minority languages andlingue franche. Understanding these practices, their meaning and their implications, helps to show in what way and under what conditions they are not merely a response to a problem, but an asset for political institutions, universities and business.
1. Introduction;
2. Part I. Companies;
3.
Chapter
1. Multilingual
practices in professional settings: Keeping the delicate balance between
progressivity and intersubjectivity (by Markaki, Vassiliki);
4.
Chapter
2.
The practical processing of plurilingualism as a resource in professional
activities: 'Border-crossing' and 'languaging' in multilingual workplaces (by
Greco, Luca);
5.
Chapter
3. Multilingualism and diversity management in
companies in the Upper Rhine Region (by Ludi, Georges);
6.
Chapter
4.
Representations of multilingualism and management of linguistic diversity in
companies: Intertwining of collective monophony and polyphony in individual
enunciators (by Bothorel-Witz, Arlette);
7.
Chapter
5. A social
representational perspective on languages and their management in the Danish
corporate sector (by Millar, Sharon);
8.
Chapter
6. What can Gaelic teach us
about effective policy through planning?: Strategies in Gaelic language
planning (by Milligan, Lindsay);
9.
Chapter
7. Language diversity management
on corporate websites (by Yanaprasart, Patchareerat);
10. Part II. European
institutions;
11.
Chapter
8. Language competence and language choice within
EU institutions and their effects on national legislative authorities (by
Kruse, Jan);
12.
Chapter
9. EU and lesser-used languages: Slovene language in
EU institutions (by Stritar, Mojca);
13.
Chapter
10. Dynamics of
multilingualism in post-Enlargement EU institutions: Perceptions, Conceptions
and Practices (by Krzyzanowski, Michal);
14. Part III. Higher education;
15.
Chapter
11. Accomplishing multilingualism through plurilingual activities (by
Nussbaum, Luci);
16.
Chapter
12. Multilingual higher education between
policies and practices: A case study (by Veronesi, Daniela);
17.
Chapter
13.
Plurilingualisms and knowledge construction in higher education (by Gajo,
Laurent);
18.
Chapter
14. Language policies in universities and their
outcomes: The University of Helsinki in a Northern European context (by
Moring, Tom);
19.
Chapter
15. Policies and practices of multilingualism at
Babes-Bolyai University (Cluj, Romania) (by Oltean, Stefan);
20. How policies
influence multilingual education and the impact of multilingual education on
practices (by Van de Craen, Piet);
21. Part IV. Transversal issues;
22.
Chapter
17. Assessing efficiency and fairness in multilingual communication:
Theory and application through indicators (by Grin, Francois);
23.
Chapter
18. English as a lingua franca in European multilingualism (by Hulmbauer,
Cornelia);
24.
Chapter
19. Europe's multilingualism in the context of a
European culture of standard languages (by Moliner, Olivier);
25. Conclusion
(by Berthoud, Anne-Claude);
26. Index
