Challenging the Monolingual Mindset

The book is a tribute to the legacy of Michael Clyne, researcher and advocate of multilingualism in Australia and abroad over a lifetime, and source of lasting inspiration for his many colleagues around the world, including those who contributed to this book with case studies across Australia, Europe and Asia. Australia has been a continent of immigration for many people and newborn generations with a wide spectrum of European roots. In its turn, this book will function as a rich source of learning and inspiration for many interested researchers and students who have witnessed and experienced the passage of Europe from a continent of emigration to immigration.

-- Guus Extra, Tilburg University, Netherlands

A wonderful book dedicated to the memory of Professor Michael Clyne who contributed so much to sociolinguistics and to multilingualism in Australia and in the world. The papers focus on the 'monolingual mindset' – an attitude that is so prevalent in many nations but gets challenged by migration, economic globalization and immigration. This collection provides a profound overview about various aspects of this type of mindset and the effects on language and society.

-- Rudolf Muhr, Austrian German Research Centre, University of Graz, Austria

This volume illustrates in a unique way the breadth of influence of Michael Clyne to whom it is dedicated. This is reflected in a wide range of exceptional studies in the field of multilingualism from what can be called 'The Melbourne School'. Reaching from language use and policy in the international contexts and challenges of language maintenance, transmission and intercultural communication to multilingualism in the educational system, this book sets landmarks for future research.

-- Claudia Maria Riehl, University of Munich, Germany

Challenging the Monolingual Mindset serves as a fascinating exemplification of Clyne’s eclectic philosophy and introduces readers to a range of issues relating to the topic of multilingualism within international and Australian contexts. This renders it a compelling read for scholars and students from a variety of backgrounds including those interested in language policy, the status of multilingualism in various locales, language maintenance, and the rise of global English.

-- Heather Smyser, University of Arizona, USA * LINGUIST List 26.2474 (2015) *

Challenging the monolingual mindset is a thoughtful volume that highlights the universality of a language ideology that has influenced the way linguistic diversity and multilingualism has been viewed and addressed in education, language policy and everyday communication. This book is a highly enjoyable and engaging read. It is a notable contribution to the emerging body of research that has been influenced by the pioneering ideas of the late Professor Michael Clyne. This book is a worthy dedication to a remarkable and inspirational academic whose ideas and passion for linguistics hopefully continue to shape emerging research.

-- Livia Gerber, Macquarie University, Australia * Multilingua 20