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1 - Multilingualism

Past and Present

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 January 2023

Peter Siemund
Affiliation:
Universität Hamburg
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Summary

The first chapter provides an introduction to the field of multilingual development explaining its scientific and societal relevance. The discussion begins with an overview of current globalization and migration processes where, based on OECD data of the past ten years, international migration streams receive illustration and substantiation. Case studies of prominent urban areas include London, Hamburg, Toronto, Vancouver, New York City, San Francisco, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai. Multilingualism, as such, is not a new phenomenon and may be considered a defining condition of the human species. However, the speed with which it keeps spreading and the density that it developed in urban areas are relatively recent phenomena without historical precedents. These processes are not universal, though. While the Western World appears to have rediscovered multilingualism after a long period of pervasive monolingualism, China currently appears on its way towards a form of social organization in which monolingualism and homogeneity are of paramount importance. The chapter further addresses the social hierarchy of languages and the special role of English in it.

Type
Chapter
Information
Multilingual Development
English in a Global Context
, pp. 1 - 43
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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  • Multilingualism
  • Peter Siemund, Universität Hamburg
  • Book: Multilingual Development
  • Online publication: 17 January 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108915540.002
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  • Multilingualism
  • Peter Siemund, Universität Hamburg
  • Book: Multilingual Development
  • Online publication: 17 January 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108915540.002
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Multilingualism
  • Peter Siemund, Universität Hamburg
  • Book: Multilingual Development
  • Online publication: 17 January 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108915540.002
Available formats
×