ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the complex relationships among peace, conflict, and war on the one hand, and language and language diversity on the other. Proposing marriage, opposing globalization, composing a speech, all require the use of language; to buy a meal or sell a car involves communication, which is made possible by language; to be without language — as an infant, a foreigner or a stroke victim — is to be at a devastating disadvantage. In considering language and language diversity, it has been suggested that the use of different languages is frequently the cause of conflict between different groups. The dominance of particular languages in different societies commonly leads to linguistic inequality. There can be no doubt that in many cases in which the people find conflict, intolerance, and insensitivity, these are reflected in both attitudes and actions concerned with language.
