ABSTRACT
The speakers are of interest collectively and individually, the varieties are important in all their manifestations, and the territories matter for their distinct configurations and dimensions. Nevertheless, demolinguistics never forgets that the main focus always falls on the populations and their identifying characteristics. The conceptual is essential for understanding the factors with greatest influence on the social life of languages and the dynamics of populations and how they function. All of this is presented as clearly and rigorously as possible with the goal of mitigating the image projected by the expression 'the happy figures of demolinguistics'. The chapter offers some of the primary applications of demolinguistics in relation to several basic types of minority and majority languages: ethnic, regional, local, or social minority languages; and national or transnational majority languages.
