Cover not available

In:Catalan Sociolinguistics: State of the art and future challenges
Edited by Miquel Àngel Pradilla Cardona
[IVITRA Research in Linguistics and Literature 32] 2022
► pp. 173–182

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload Book PDF
EPUB logo with download linkDownload Book EPUB
authorization required

Chapter 12
The economics of language

 | Rovira i Virgili University
Published online: 1 December 2022
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ivitra.32.12ala
Abstract
This article reviews the contributions made from the Catalan academia to the economy of the language. The economics of language comprises two subfields: (1) the study of the relationships between language and economic activity, and (2) the study of the social dimensions of language from the economic method in a strict sense. The production from the economy of the language in strict sense has few although original researches. Among the inquiries that have been made, stands out that is characterized by the emphasis on the value of the language itself, and not just in the exchange value of a given language. Also is remarkable the analysis of the economic and political competition between linguistic groups. In spite of the relevance of the problems dealt with, there has not been a specialization of researchers in the study of the relations between economy and language in the Catalan linguistic sphere. Lack of research brings us the problem that research is essentially replaced by untested dominant social representations about dimension of language speakers community as the only factor for market valuation and economic growth.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction: Language imperialism and the economic method
  • 2.Economics of language: Delimitation
  • 3.Language and economic activity
  • 4.Language and economic method
  • 5.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
References (35)
References
Alarcón, Amado. (2004). Economía, política e idiomas. Madrid: Consejo Económico y Social.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2007). “Informacionalisme, globalització i trilingüisme. Una anàlisi de l’estadística sobre usos lingüístics a petites i mitjanes empreses de Catalunya”. Noves SL, no. 1 (autumn-winter).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Block, D. (2018). Political economy and sociolinguistics: Neoliberalism, inequality and social class. Bloomsbury Publishing.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Breton, Albert. (1964). “The Economics of Nationalism”. Journal of Political Economy, no. 67, pp. 376–386. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Caminal, R. & Di Paolo, A. (2019). Your Language of Mine? The Non-Communicative Benefits of Language Skills. Economic Inquiry, 57(1): 726–750.. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Castelló, Rafael. (2002). “Economia dels intercanvis lingüístics al País Valencià”. Treballs de Sociolingüística Catalana, no. 16, pp. 195–216.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Catalan Government, Departament de Cultura, C. D. (2020). Language policy report. 2018.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Chiswick, Barry R. & Miller, Paul W. (2002). “Immigrant earnings: language skills, linguistic concentrations, and the business cycle”. Journal of Population Economics, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 31–57. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Colomer, Josep M. (1990). “The utility of bilingualism: A contribution to a rational choice model of language”. Rationality and Society, no. 2, pp. 310–334. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1996a). La utilitat del bilingüisme: Una proposta de pluralisme lingüístic a Catalunya, Espanya i Europa. Barcelona: Edicions 62.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1996b). “To translate or to learn languages? An evaluation of social efficiency”. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, no. 121, pp. 181–197. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Coulmas, Florian. (2005). “Changing language regimes in globalizing environments”. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, no. 175–176, pp. 3–15. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Di Paolo, A., & Raymond, J. L. (2012). Language knowledge and earnings in Catalonia. Journal of Applied Economics, 15(1), 89–118. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
García Delgado, José Luis, Alonso, José Antonio & Jiménez, Juan Carlos. (2009). Economía del español: Una introducción. Madrid: Ariel.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Grin, François. (2003). “Language planning and Economics”. Current Issues in Language Planning, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 1–66. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hagen, Stephen. (2004). Languages and culture in British business: Communication, needs and strategies. London: CILT.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Heller, Monica. (2005). “Language, skill and authenticity in the globalized new economy”. Noves SL (winter).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Laitin, David D. (1992). “Language normalization in Estonia and Catalonia”. Journal of Baltic Studies, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 149–166. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
López i Casasnovas, Guillem, Ferragut, Gabriel, Mosterin, Ana & Nicodemo, Catia. (2009). “Efectes econòmics de les polítiques d’integració dels immigrants”. Paradigmes, no. 2.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Marí, Isidor. (2009). “Primers resultats de l’estudi ELAN.cat: el català en el multilingüisme de les empreses catalanes”. Revista Llengua i Ús, no. 46.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Marschak, Jacob. (1965). ”Economics of language”. Behavioral Science, vol. 10, no. 2, p. 135–140. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ninyoles, Rafael-Lluís (2001). “Conflicte lingüístic i ideología”. In: Mollà, Toni. (ed.). Ideologia i conflicte lingüístic. Alzira: Bromera, pp. 13–32.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2008). “Els reptes de la normalització: societat, economia i llengua”. Llibre blanc d’ús del valencià II: Iniciatives per al foment del valencià. Valencia: Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua, pp. 19–31.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Parijs, Philippe van. (2002). “Linguistic Justice”. Politics, Philosophy and Economics, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 59–74. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Phillipson, Robert. (1992). Linguistic Imperialism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Quella, Núria & Rendon, Silvio. (2009). “Occupational selection in multilingual labor markets: The case of Catalonia”. Department of Economics Working Papers with number 09-02. Stony Brook University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rausell, Pau. (2002). “Economia de la llengua”. In: Mollà, Toni. (ed.). Llengües globals, llengües locals. Alzira: Bromera.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rendon, Silvio. (2007). “The Catalan premium: language and employment in Catalonia”. Journal of Population Economics, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 669–686. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rovira, Marta. (2004). El català a les empreses. Barcelona: Proa.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Solé, Carlota, Alarcón, Amado, Terrones, Albert & Garzón, Luis. (2006). Llengua, empresa i integració econòmica: L’intercanvi econòmic com a font de canvi lingüístic. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Solé, Carlota, Alarcón, Amado, Terrones, Albert, Garzón, Luis & Martínez, Paola. (2008). Capitals lingüístics i empreses: Racionalitat de l’extensió social de l’ús del català davant dels nous reptes d’organització social. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Solé i Camardons, Joan. (2007). “El món socioeconòmic i associatiu”. Paper given at the International Symposium on Catalan in the 20th century: summary of the situation and perspectives. Centenary of the Institute of Catalan Studies (1907–2007), Barcelona, 24, 25 and 26 October.
Soler, Vivent. (2008). “El Valencià i el món socioeconòmic”. Llibre blanc d’ús del valencià II: Iniciatives per al foment del valencià. Valencia: Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua, pp. 475–491.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Vilar, Pierre. (1978). Cataluña en la España moderna. Vol. I. Barcelona: Crítica.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ybarra, Josep-Antoni. (1998). “Espais econòmics i espais lingüístics. Per una política econòmica coherent en l’era de la globalització”, talk at the 7th Symposium of Sociolinguistics, Alcoi, 27 March.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (2)

Cited by two other publications

Ilin, I. G.
2025. Constitutional-Legal Aspect of Creating Large Language Models: the Problem of Digital Inequality and Linguistic Discrimination. Journal of Digital Technologies and Law 3:1 ► pp. 89 ff. DOI logo
Massaguer Comes, Marina
2024. No-catalanoparlants internacionals a Catalunya: mobilitat, desigualtats i llengua catalana. Revista de Llengua i Dret :81 ► pp. 32 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 12 november 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue