Abstract:
This chapter charts academic discussions of language rights over time in relation to both sociolinguistics and political theory. Within sociolinguistics, it first explores debates around language endangerment and language ecology, highlighting the links between linguistic and biodiversity. It then turns to discussions within both sociolinguistics and political theory about the relationship between language rights and individual and collective mobility. Issues of language and mobility include addressing the normative ascendancy of national languages, the increasing influence of English as a world language, and the impact of both on ongoing Indigenous/minority language use. The final section explores contemporary political theory debates about the related notion of linguistic justice, particularly for minoritised language speakers.