Projects / Programmes
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.05.02 |
Humanities |
Linguistics |
Theoretical and applied linguistics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H004 |
Humanities |
Philology |
| H360 |
Humanities |
Applied linguistics, foreign languages teaching, sociolinguistics |
Ethnically mix settings, language, language value, language market, social cohesiveness
Researchers (8)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
In an ethnically mixed setting the linking of economic and language processes at both the micro and the macro levels is expressed in the mutual acceptance or non-acceptance of different language groups. In considering language and economy the research takes into account the course of the interaction between language and economy in both directions and transfer the results (positive or negative) to individuals in society. Economic factors which influence the ethno-linguistic vitality of communities and contribute to the evaluation of diversity and to the promotion of minority languages are defined.. The knowledge of a language is not only of academic value, but language in the wider sense also integrates and combines other disciplines. Various socio-economic factors have an impact on changes in the meaning of knowledge and use of one, two or more languages.
The study is based on the hypothesis that language in a multicultural setting has value. The value variable is multi-layered and very much influenced by society. Using various methods the study will attempt to define individual values, and which dimension of individual or social values is established in an ethnically mixed setting in Slovenia, as well as the presence of an economical variable.
The second hypothesis set in the study is that the language market is denoted by society, and specially by the political economy of language and the policy of language planning, creating “a production of languages”, and in the case of a multilingual society (setting) also creating a hierarchy of languages, where each language has a different place in the hierarchical pyramid.
Significance for science
Research results of the project group's work contribute to the recognizability of Slovene science in the field of applied linguistics. Language and economy is a new sphere linking two separate disciplines. According to bibliography no research has been made in Slovenia of the link between language and economy; for this reason, the results of the project group research work are of such significance so as a theoretical as an empirical contribution to the defining of language value and of the language market structure in Slovenia.
The results of the research work- theoretical and empliricalpresent an important contribution to the field of methodology in the applied linguistics research. The creation of the instruments – the semi-structured questionary and the carrying out of interviews with selected leading staff in selected Slovene companies, together with data analysis, will contribute to the development of the methodology of applied linguistics research. The research defined the link between language and economic variables in different settings (ethnically mixed and ethnically homogenous settings) and ascertained that the official language policy and economic situation of a region affect language education (formal and informal) as well as the structure of language market. Acquired empirical data have contributed to theoretical concepts of the value of language and indicated the role of social and economic variables that affect the structure of language market.
The inclusion of economic variables in the argumentation of different language processes represents a contribution that upgrades the up to date sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic findings; in the field of applied linguistics it is an achievement from theoretical point of view as from the viewpoint of methodology of sociolinguistic research.
Significance for the country
Research results contribute to the visibility of Slovenian science in the field of applied linguistics in the world. Project results relating to the empirical part of the research work are important mainly for the development of research methodology in the field of interaction of language and economy in Slovenia. Results of the empirical research and analysis of data, upon the completion of the project, will be useful so in politics, with the planning of language/education policies, as in economy by considering language knowledge as a value and as an investment, contributing to the final result – market success. Market success is important for the individual, for the company itself and for the socio-economic situation and development of Slovenia.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
