Beyond Language - Kurdish Language Activism in the Face of Colonial Language Governmentality

This ethnographic work examines both the colonial language governmentality imposed by the Turkish state and the Kurdish language activism as a response to this system. Through a genealogical study, it calls for a reconsideration of the linguistic condition in Turkey as being more than nationalist, highlighting its foundation in intertwined ideologies of racism, imperialism, and colonialism. It then provides an analysis of new possibilities and directions led by the actors of the Kurdish language movement, which seeks to enhance not only the linguistic but also the socio-political condition of the Kurdish people by taking a "beyond language" approach. The work advances our thinking about language oppression and minority language activism.

About the author

Demet Arpacık, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.

Summary

This ethnographic work examines both the colonial language governmentality imposed by the Turkish state and the Kurdish language activism as a response to this system. Through a genealogical study, it calls for a reconsideration of the linguistic condition in Turkey as being more than nationalist, highlighting its foundation in intertwined ideologies of racism, imperialism, and colonialism. It then provides an analysis of new possibilities and directions led by the actors of the Kurdish language movement, which seeks to enhance not only the linguistic but also the socio-political condition of the Kurdish people by taking a "beyond language" approach. The work advances our thinking about language oppression and minority language activism.

Product details

• Authors: Demet Arpacik, Demet Arpacık
• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 04.11.2024
• EAN: 9783111139739
• ISBN: 978-3-11-113973-9
• No. of pages: 342
• Weight: 627 g
• Illustrations: 1 b/w and 10 col. ill.
• Series: Contributions to the Sociology of Language [CSL]
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; Englisch, Kurdisch, Zweisprachigkeit und Mehrsprachigkeit, Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Kritische Pädagogik, Regional Studies, Bilingualism & multilingualism, SOC053000 SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies, critical pedagogy, HIS055000 HISTORY / Middle East / Turkey & Ottoman Empire, Colonial Linguistics, Koloniallinguistik, Sprachaktivismus, Kurdish, Language Activism