Home Linguistics & Semiotics Chapter 12. The economics of language
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Chapter 12. The economics of language

  • Amado Alarcón Alarcón
View more publications by John Benjamins Publishing Company
To Publisher Page
Catalan Sociolinguistics
This chapter is in the book Catalan Sociolinguistics

Abstract

This article reviews the contributions made from the Catalan academia to the economy of the language. The economics of language comprises two subfields: (1) the study of the relationships between language and economic activity, and (2) the study of the social dimensions of language from the economic method in a strict sense. The production from the economy of the language in strict sense has few although original researches. Among the inquiries that have been made, stands out that is characterized by the emphasis on the value of the language itself, and not just in the exchange value of a given language. Also is remarkable the analysis of the economic and political competition between linguistic groups. In spite of the relevance of the problems dealt with, there has not been a specialization of researchers in the study of the relations between economy and language in the Catalan linguistic sphere. Lack of research brings us the problem that research is essentially replaced by untested dominant social representations about dimension of language speakers community as the only factor for market valuation and economic growth.

Abstract

This article reviews the contributions made from the Catalan academia to the economy of the language. The economics of language comprises two subfields: (1) the study of the relationships between language and economic activity, and (2) the study of the social dimensions of language from the economic method in a strict sense. The production from the economy of the language in strict sense has few although original researches. Among the inquiries that have been made, stands out that is characterized by the emphasis on the value of the language itself, and not just in the exchange value of a given language. Also is remarkable the analysis of the economic and political competition between linguistic groups. In spite of the relevance of the problems dealt with, there has not been a specialization of researchers in the study of the relations between economy and language in the Catalan linguistic sphere. Lack of research brings us the problem that research is essentially replaced by untested dominant social representations about dimension of language speakers community as the only factor for market valuation and economic growth.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface ix
  4. Chapter 1. Catalan sociolinguistics 1
  5. Chapter 2. History of the group GCS/ASOLC/SOCS 15
  6. Chapter 3. Linguistic ecology 29
  7. Chapter 4. For a prospective sociology of language 39
  8. Chapter 5. Is there a social history of the Catalan language? 55
  9. Chapter 6. Research on language codification 67
  10. Chapter 7. The process of normalising Catalan in the media 93
  11. Chapter 8. The (limited) contribution of Catalan political science to Catalan sociolinguistics 107
  12. Chapter 9. Forty years of language policy in Catalonia (1980–2020) 119
  13. Chapter 10. From normalisation to sustainability 139
  14. Chapter 11. Language law in the Catalan domain 159
  15. Chapter 12. The economics of language 173
  16. Chapter 13. Demolinguistics in Catalan-speaking territories 183
  17. Chapter 14. The linguistic transmission of Catalan 195
  18. Chapter 15. Research on educational sociolinguistics in the Catalan-speaking area 207
  19. Chapter 16. Language and social psychology research in Catalan sociolinguistics 245
  20. Chapter 17. Linguistic anthropology 261
  21. Chapter 18. New speakers 275
  22. Chapter 19. Pragmatics and discourse analysis 297
  23. Chapter 20. The kaleidoscopic universe of the sociolinguistics of variation in the Catalan language 313
  24. Index 331
https://doi.org/10.1075/ivitra.32.12ala

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface ix
  4. Chapter 1. Catalan sociolinguistics 1
  5. Chapter 2. History of the group GCS/ASOLC/SOCS 15
  6. Chapter 3. Linguistic ecology 29
  7. Chapter 4. For a prospective sociology of language 39
  8. Chapter 5. Is there a social history of the Catalan language? 55
  9. Chapter 6. Research on language codification 67
  10. Chapter 7. The process of normalising Catalan in the media 93
  11. Chapter 8. The (limited) contribution of Catalan political science to Catalan sociolinguistics 107
  12. Chapter 9. Forty years of language policy in Catalonia (1980–2020) 119
  13. Chapter 10. From normalisation to sustainability 139
  14. Chapter 11. Language law in the Catalan domain 159
  15. Chapter 12. The economics of language 173
  16. Chapter 13. Demolinguistics in Catalan-speaking territories 183
  17. Chapter 14. The linguistic transmission of Catalan 195
  18. Chapter 15. Research on educational sociolinguistics in the Catalan-speaking area 207
  19. Chapter 16. Language and social psychology research in Catalan sociolinguistics 245
  20. Chapter 17. Linguistic anthropology 261
  21. Chapter 18. New speakers 275
  22. Chapter 19. Pragmatics and discourse analysis 297
  23. Chapter 20. The kaleidoscopic universe of the sociolinguistics of variation in the Catalan language 313
  24. Index 331
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Winner of the OpenAthens UX Award 2026
Winner of the OpenAthens UX Award 2026
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2026 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 10.3.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/ivitra.32.12ala/html
Scroll to top button