Guardians of Language
Twenty Voices Through History
Florian Coulmas
Reviews and Awards
"An original and highly erudite contribution to the field of language policy and planning." -- Angela Bartens, Sociolinguistic Studies
"In depth and at the same time highly enjoyable, it will spark the interest not only of researchers in the field, but also of undergraduate and graduate students, and of general readers who want to know more about one (or more) of its charismatic protagonists."-- Federica Guerini, Linguistica e Filologia
"This book may be the first and possibly the last in which one sees Sejong the Great (15th-century king of Korea), Spanish Renaissance scholar Antonio de Nebrija, Kemal Atatürk (founder of the Republic of Turkey), and 20th-century Indonesian author Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana between the same covers. Each chapter includes some biographical notes and historical context followed by a fictionalized interview highlighting the individual's key thoughts, a conceit that allows the reader to have it directly from the horse's mouth. The writing is elegant with some wisely chosen droplets of humor. One can read the book cover to cover, but those interested in particular topics--e.g., Esperanto, the revival of modern Hebrew, Bahasa Indonesia--can read select chapters. However approached, the book is a delightful read." -- Choice
"The writing is elegant with some wisely chosen droplets of humor. One can read the book cover to cover, but those interested in particular topics-e.g., Esperanto, the revival of modern Hebrew, Bahasa Indonesia-can read select chapters. However approached, the book is a delightful read."--Choice
"The scholarship and erudition of the book are outstanding, and the book makes language planning and policy issues accessible to a broader public of expert and nonexpert readers from all fields... an easy, enjoyable read."--Iair Or, Elana Shohamy, Language
"Coulmas uses his ingenious format to draw our attention to certain neglected aspects of the historical record... The book presents a sheaf of individual, idiosyncratic facts, ranging over triumphs and setbacks, both immediate and long term." --Probal Dasgupta, Language Problems and Language Planning
