Group UVAL

Demolinguistics

Demolinguistics, also known as demography of language, is a relatively recent and not very well-known discipline. Its object of study is the statistical analysis of the population (its size, structure, and geographic concentration or dispersion) from a linguistic point of view, drawing from the level of knowledge and use of the languages spoken. That is to say, it quantifies who understands and/or uses a specific language variety and in which contexts.

The quantitative approach adopted by this research area consists in counting the number of speakers, by using official population censuses which include questions about language, sample studies or sociolinguistic questionnaires.

Demography of language is structured around two dimensions, unequally developed but equally necessary for their application to language planning: a descriptive dimension and a prospective one. The descriptive dimension basically tries to observe both the recent evolution and the state of language knowledge and use at a certain point in time. This dimension includes all studies and surveys derived from census analysis and questionnaires promoted by institutions. The prospective dimension incorporates not only the projection of language knowledge and use but also the prediction that basic demographic and linguistic factors of the population will affect the future of a particular language. Our work focuses on this original and innovative aspect.

As far as the methodology is concerned, our group developed the DMLX software based on demolinguistic projections in collaboration with professor David Sankoff from University of Ottawa. DMLX allows the prediction of levels of linguistic competence and use in a population. This software incorporates mathematical models of the linguistic processes involved in the reproduction of a language: inter-generational transmission, schooling, and language integration of immigrants. Between 2003 and 2007, this model was successfully applied in Spain to its six officially bilingual communities, as well as in the United Kingdom and Ireland. During 2008, we have been working to extend its application to minority languages of Europe.