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Article published In: Language, conflict and security
Edited by Roberta Medda-Windischer and Andrea Carlà
[Language Problems and Language Planning 46:2] 2022
► pp. 131–145

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Language conflicts and securitization in multilingual societies

ORCiD logo with link | Herder Institute for Historical Research on East Central Europe Marburg | Justus-Liebig-University Giessen
Published online: 17 November 2022
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.00088.has
Abstract
Societal multilingualism is an essential aspect of political communication. This applies in particular to the management of security issues and language conflicts in multilingual states. As this article demonstrates, these processes of securitization set in much earlier than just in situations of open conflict. They can lead to a spiral of competitive securitization. It is therefore surprising that so far hardly any theoretical considerations have been made to explore the intersection between conflict dynamics, securitization processes and multilingualism. This article therefore examines this theoretical gap and identifies questions and requirements for future theoretical work. The aim is to open new avenues for studying multilingualism through the prism of securitization and conflict theory.
Zusammenfassung
Gesellschaftliche Mehrsprachigkeit ist ein wesentlicher Aspekt der politischen Kommunikation. Dies gilt insbesondere für Sicherheitsfragen und das Management von Sprachkonflikten in mehrsprachigen Staaten. Wie der Beitrag zeigt, setzen sich Prozesse der Versicherheitlichung von Sprachfragen viel früher ein als erst in Situationen des offenen Konflikts. Sie können auch zu einer Spirale kompetitiver Versicherheitlichung führen. Es ist daher überraschend, wie wenig theoretische Überlegungen bisher angestellt wurden, um die Schnittmengen zwischen Konfliktdynamiken, Versicherheitlichungsprozessen und Mehrsprachigkeit zu ergründen. Dieser Artikel fokussiert daher diese theoretische Lücke und identifiziert Fragen und Anforderungen für zukünftige theoretische Arbeiten. Das Ziel ist, dadurch neue Wege für das Studium der Mehrsprachigkeit durch das Prisma der Versicherheitlichungstheorie zu eröffnen.
Resumo
Socia multlingvismo estas esenca aspekto de politika komunikado. Tio rilatas tutunue al mastrumado de sekurecaj demandoj kaj lingvaj konfliktoj en multlingvaj ŝtatoj. Kiel montras tiu ĉi artikolo, tiuj situacioj de sekurecigo realiĝas multe pli frue ol nur en apertaj konfliktoj. Ili povas ankaŭ konduki al spiralo de konkurenca sekurecigo. Sekve, estas surprize, ke ĝis nun oni apenaŭ dediĉis teorian konsideradon al esplorado de la intersekco inter konfliktaj dinamikoj, sekurecigaj procezoj kaj multlingvismo. Tial, la nuna artikolo ekzamenas tiun teorian fendon, kaj identigas demandojn kaj necesojn por estonta teoria laboro. Ĝi celas malfermi novajn vojojn al studado de multlingvismo tra la prismo de sekurecigo kaj konfliktoteorio.
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