Standardization and vitality: The role of linguistic purism in preventing extinction

Daniel, Rhianwen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7482-588X 2023. Standardization and vitality: The role of linguistic purism in preventing extinction. Language Problems and Language Planning 47 (2) , pp. 182-207. 10.1075/lplp.00105.dan

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Abstract

This paper examines the relation between linguistic purism, standardization, and vitality, arguing that linguistic purism warrants renewed emphasis as a necessary heuristic for preventing language endangerment and extinction. Linguistic purism has developed an unfavourable reputation in contemporary linguistics and is frequently portrayed as irrational and reactionary. This is partly due to its historical association with nationalism, and partly due to the descriptive rather than prescriptive nature of contemporary linguistics. This paper argues that linguistic purism is actually rooted in progressive rather than reactionary political thought and activity, and is a constitutive feature of Western Modernity. Moreover, its historical association with nationalism is more accurately understood as anti-colonial resistance, a grassroots version of which can be observed across numerous non-Han ethnic groups in the People’s Republic of China today. Using the explanatory framework of linguistic relativity, the paper further argues that purism is a rational rather than reactionary response to excessive translingual borrowing.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	English, Communication and Philosophy
Publisher:	John Benjamins Publishing
ISSN:	0272-2690
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	22 August 2023
Date of Acceptance:	18 May 2023
Last Modified:	28 Mar 2024 14:38
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/161977

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