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The Power of Heritage Languages in Social Cohesion

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Here is my latest call for papers for a new volume focusing on the vital role of heritage languages in promoting social cohesion, identity, and cultural diversity. This volume aims to explore the multifaceted relationships between heritage languages and societal integration, examining how these languages influence personal and group identity, societal integration, and intergenerational transmission.

Topics for Submission

Heritage Languages and Identity

  • Explore the role of heritage languages in shaping personal and group identity.
  • Discuss how heritage languages act as conduits for transmitting cultural values, traditions, and histories.
  • Examine the impact of heritage language maintenance on diaspora communities, including the potential challenges related to linguistic assimilation and identity crises.

Heritage Languages and Integration

  • Analyze the complex relationship between heritage language maintenance and societal integration.
  • Evaluate the role of bilingual or multilingual policies in supporting economic, social, and educational success.
  • Provide insights into how heritage language education can foster a sense of inclusion and respect for cultural diversity.

Heritage Languages and Intergenerational Transmission

  • Investigate the challenges and strategies related to transmitting heritage languages across generations.
  • Assess the role of community-based language schools, bilingual education programs, and cultural activities in preserving heritage languages.
  • Consider how these educational efforts contribute to a richer social fabric and bridge generational gaps.

Heritage Languages and Social Networks

  • Discuss how heritage languages facilitate the creation and sustainability of social networks within communities.
  • Explore the potential of these networks to support new immigrants and mobilize resources for various purposes.
  • Critically analyze the impact of such networks on community insularity and their effects on broader societal integration.

Policy Implications and Recommendations

  • Offer recommendations for policymakers on balancing national identity cohesion and the nurturing of linguistic and cultural diversity.
  • Suggest frameworks for multilingual education programs, public funding initiatives, and community engagement strategies.
  • Propose legal measures to protect and promote the use of heritage languages in both public and private spheres.

Heritage Languages and Artificial Intelligence

  • Investigate the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in supporting the learning and preservation of heritage languages.
  • Analyze the role of AI in facilitating better understanding and processing of less-documented languages, potentially contributing to their revitalization.
  • Consider the ethical implications and challenges of using AI in the context of cultural and linguistic preservation, ensuring that these technologies respect and uphold the nuances of heritage languages.

Cover Illustration

Raymond Verdaguer is a French artist and illustrator born in the French Pyrenees. Since 1976, he has specialized with wood engravings and linocuts. His work has appeared in newspapers and magazines such as The New York Times, Harper’s Magazine, Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Magazine, Liberation, International Herald Tribune, Le Point, Le Monde diplomatique, Courrier International. As a book illustrator, Raymond Verdaguer works for a number of major publishers in the US and Europe (Random House, Viking Penguin, TBR Books, and Editions de la Maison de l’Homme). Verdaguer prefers simple outlines and strong dynamic contrasts. He mostly deals with political-ethical topics. His illustrations depict disillusioned and suffering people in a devastated environment, beset by monstrous technology and dubious interests. He takes an anthropological perspective: the person suffering now and the suffering person of all times and spaces.

Contributors

Heritage languages are integral to cultural identity and heritage, with significant implications for social cohesion. This volume seeks contributions that deeply understand how heritage languages can be preserved and promoted to enhance societal integration and cohesion. We invite scholars, educators, policymakers, non-profit and business leaders, and community leaders to submit their chapter. Contributions can take the form of a detailed research article, an in-depth case study, a personal narrative reflecting individual experiences, or a comprehensive interview.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Abstract (up to 250 words)
  • Full paper (up to 8000 words, including references)
  • APA formatting for references and citations
  • Biography and affiliation details of the author(s)
  • Submit your abstract + author(s) biography by August 31, 2024 to editors-hl@calec.org
  • Acceptance letters will be sent by September 15, 2024
  • If accepted, submit your full manuscript by December 31, 2024 to editors-hl@calec.org
  • For further inquiries, contact the editors at the same address

We look forward to your contributions to this important discussion on heritage languages and their role in enriching and integrating diverse societies.

Editors

Jane Flatau Ross is an educator with over 40 years’ experience in the field of international education, including a long career at the Lycée Français de New York. She is the founder of the French Heritage Language Program, an initiative that provides language instruction and support to Francophone immigrants in the United States. Ross received her Ph.D. in Comparative and International Education from New York University. She authored a number of scholarly papers and book chapters concerning the development of Heritage Language programs, bilingual and dual language initiatives. She is the author of Two Centuries of French Education in New York: The Role of Schools in Cultural Diplomacy.

Fabrice Jaumont is a scholar-practitioner, award-winning author, non-profit leader, and education advisor based in New York. He currently serves as Education Attaché for the Embassy of France to the United States, a Research Fellow at Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme in Paris, and an adjunct professor at Baruch College. He is President of the Center for the Advancement of Languages, Education, and Communities, a nonprofit publishing organization based in New York and Paris. He has published nine books on education, language, and development. Jaumont holds a Ph.D. in Comparative and International Education from New York University. He is the author of The Bilingual Revolution: The Future of Education is in Two Languages and Conversations on Bilingualism

Knowledge Production at CALEC

Catalog

TBR Books, the publishing arm of CALEC, plays a crucial role in the organization’s mission to connect with diverse audiences. With an impressive portfolio of over 250 titles, our aim is to foster knowledge and engagement across a variety of fields, including education, languages, cultural heritage, and social initiatives. Our publications have significantly broadened our intellectual reach and sociocultural influence, serving an expanding community of linguistic and cultural groups. In 2023 alone, TBR Books introduced 30 new titles to its existing collection, further enriching our catalog. Our commitment to growing and diversifying our offerings seeks to amplify our impact, delivering compelling content that champions the cause of multilingualism. Notably, our books garnered considerable attention at prominent events like the Paris Book Festival and Montreal’s Book Fair, and are readily available through major online retailers as well as our dedicated websites, tbr-books.org for the US market and calec.fr for European readers, ensuring wide accessibility and reach.