Market models of language policy: A view from Estonia

Abstract

This article, based on extended ethnographic research on the Voro language revival, considers the socio-cultural context of language policy in Estonia. I focus on the complex relationship between civil society and the state in shaping language policy. In particular, I examine the way language advocates have capitalised on their new-found freedoms, a web of identities, and decentralised language policy, as well as Estonia's membership of European organisations to pursue a diverse set of programmes, research and projects. The result is best characterised as a kind of market policy, whose unique benefits and limitations merit broad discussion. A series of programmes embedded in this competitive market model replace what may be regarded as a comprehensive language policy with a clear line of development. Although this market policy model has significant drawbacks, it provides civil society organisations with great freedoms to design and carry out the project once they receive funding. I discuss these aspects ...

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