Linguistic Genocide or Superdiversity?

This inspiring collection of chapters thematizes ethnic and linguistic variation as they are experienced today in a variety of contexts characterized by accelerating urbanization, rising literacy and the spread of new media. The book campaigns successfully for a freshly optimistic perspective on the future of the world’s linguistic diversity.

* Anneli Sarhimaa, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany *

This innovative collection provides a ground-breaking look at not only language loss, but also the emergence of new kinds of linguistic variation that develop in the context of language ecologies undergoing shift. An emphasis on case studies in the under-researched arena of languages in contact with Russian provides fresh perspectives in this invaluable volume.

* Lenore Grenoble, The University of Chicago, USA *

In the mainstream of today's research of language endangerment, Linguistic Genocide or Superdiversity? is a refreshing and optimistic read against the gloomy background of dozens of books predicting the inevitable disappearance of all languages except English. With Foley's metaphor of 'language birth' in mind, the authors suggest interesting alternatives to another widespread metaphor, that of 'language death'.

-- Nikolai Vakhtin, European University at St Petersburg, Russia

This volume constitutes an important intervention into linguistic and linguistic anthropological discussions about the nature of and prospects for linguistic diversity in a context of globalization. The editors of the book have worked to draw together the two primary – and seemingly opposite – approaches to understanding the contemporary global sociolinguistic landscape, and convincingly articulate the case for unifying the two ideas.

-- Sarah Shulist, MacEwan University, Canada * LINGUIST List 28.2314 *

The book, with its multitude of case studies, represents a useful resource
for anyonewanting to gain a detailed insight into the wide range of diversities across
Europe.

-- Katharina Prochazka, University of Vienna, Austria * Language in Society 47:2 (201