Language and Identity of Ethnic Minority Groups, Possible Ways of Their Maintenance and Revitalization

Abstract

The value of multilingulism and multiculturalism has been an increasingly recognised issue; in practical life, however, assimilation trends continue. The title pursues questions of ethnicity, ethnic minority groups and minority languages.

A number of successful ethnoliguistic revitalization cases in Europe (e.g. the Welsh, Basques, the Sámi) or other continents (the Maoris in New Zealand) are interpreted in detail.

Keywords

• ethnic/linguistic minority groups
• ethnicity
• sociolinguistics
• assimilation
• revitalisation