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Languages after Brexit

How the UK Speaks to the World

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  • © 2018
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Overview

Editors:
  1. Michael Kelly

    1. Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom

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  • Represents the definitive assessment of the UK’s language needs and capabilities as the country faces up to Brexit
  • Brings together leading experts in language policy from across politics, economics, business, science and education
  • Provides accessible, informed interventions on the key challenges and opportunities facing languages in the UK

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Table of contents (22 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxiii
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  2. Introduction

    • Jean Coussins, Philip Harding-Esch
    Pages 1-9
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  3. Living in a World of Languages

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 11-11
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    2. Why Are Many People Resistant to Other Languages?

      • Michael Kelly
      Pages 13-24
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    3. Trouble with English?

      • Jennifer Jenkins
      Pages 25-34
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    4. A Language-Rich Future for the UK

      • Maria K. Norton
      Pages 35-45
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Keywords

About this book

This book represents a significant intervention into the debates surrounding Brexit and language policy. It analyses the language capabilities and resources of the United Kingdom in a new, post-referendum climate, in which public hostility towards foreign languages is matched by the necessity of renegotiating and building relationships with the rest of Europe and beyond. The authors scrutinize the availability of key resources in diverse sectors of society including politics, economics, business, science and education, while simultaneously offering practical advice and guidance on how to thrive in the new international environment. This extremely timely edited collection brings together leading researchers from across the field of language policy, and is sure to appeal not only to students and scholars of this subject, but also to practitioners, policy makers and educators. 

Reviews

“Languages after Brexit: How the UK Speaks to the World is a timely and thought-provoking study. … the first book-length research of the linguistic issues pertaining to Brexit and should be of interest to all who are involved in the academic study of the interplay between languages and politics. … It is believed that more research output in this respect will be yielded.” (Hong Diao, Journal of Language and Politics, Vol. 19 (1), 2018)

“The UK's future hangs on maintaining both its position in international trade and our soft power—on being outward-facing. This perceptive book makes the case for a strategic approach to language-learning as authoritatively as you'd expect from such a diverse and expert group of contributors.” (Richard Hardie, Senior Adviser UBS UK)

“The book is both timely and urgent. Language practitioners in the UK are very concerned with the new challenges they face following the Brexit decision, which comes on top of many years of decline of MFL teaching at all levels of the UK education system. It is helpful to read not only an analysis of the problem but also specific recommendations to mitigate it.” (Naomi Segal, Birkbeck, University of London, UK)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom

    Michael Kelly

About the editor

Michael Kelly is Emeritus Professor of French at the University of Southampton, UK. A specialist in modern French culture and society, he is active in developing public policy relating to languages and cultural diversity. He edits the European Journal of Language Policy, while his most recent books focus on languages in the context of war and conflict.

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