Language Planning and Policy in Native America History, Theory, Praxis

In terms of both the breadth and depth of scholarship Teresa L. McCarty's Language Planning and Policy in Native America is an extraordinary contribution. The work of those in Native language revitalization, the perspectives of a number of academic disciplines as well as education and Native language policy development are uniquely and artfully brought together in this volume by a scholar whose career has had significant involvement and contribution in each area. David Beaulieu, Electa Quinney Institute for American Indian Education, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA Grounding her position in the principles of tribal sovereignty, McCarty provides an insightful, thoroughly investigated, and critical examination of the complexities of Native American language rights and change. She deconstructs commonly held perceptions and theoretical positions of language change and re-introduces us to the multifaceted and resilient qualities of Native peoples and their languages in our contemporary world. Tiffany S. Lee, Native American Studies, University of New Mexico, USA McCarty's Language Planning and Policy in Native America is a beautiful testimonial to this historic time when Native American communities are taking control of their own linguistic futures. In contrast to the view of language policy as primarily a top-down set of regulations from various levels of government and authorities, McCarty recognizes the primacy of tribal sovereignity, and puts together a new and exciting approach to LPP in Native America as indigenous and community-driven. This inspired and hopeful volume provides a theoretical analysis of the history of oppression and subsequent reclamation of Native American languages, combined with current case studies and a view to the future through the eyes of indigenous youth. A must-read for community language activists and all those interested in language revitalization. Leanne Hinton, University of California at Berkeley, USA