ABSTRACT
In previous chapters, we have taken an inquisitive, critical stance toward movements of linguistic revival based on a nationalist agenda. We have articulated a view that is openly negative of nationalism as a political movement, based on the essential paradox whereby any movement that attempts to elevate and privilege ‘us’ must logically undermine and discriminate against ‘them’. If the raison d’être of the nation-state is a peaceful and stable society, such an essentialist political agenda becomes questionable, because that political agenda harbors at its core the possibility – even the probability – of conflict, which contrasts with the idea of a peaceful and stable society. Along these lines, one can question language ideologies aimed at putting one specific language ahead of others in any given context. In this sense, when language revival is based on nationalist ideologies, as it often is, we take a critical stance. Our criticism is based on the following two theses that emerge from our study so far:
The superiority-inferiority paradox
The linguistic dimension
