New speakers and processes of new speakerness across time and space

Abstract

The theorizing and conceptualization of the new speaker label first emerged from discussions amongst a small group of researchers working on some of Europe's lesser-used languages including Catalan (Pujolar 2007; Pujolar and Gonzàlez 2013), Galician (O'Rourke and Ramallo 2011 and O'Rourke and Ramallo 2013) and Irish (O'Rourke 2011). These are languages which were revitalized with some measure of success as a result of more favourable language policies, but which faced the consequent problem of social differentiation between first- and second-language speakers, and tensions over ownership of and legitimate language rights.