Micro-level language-planning and grass-root initiatives: a case study of Irish language comedy and Inari Sámi rap

• Published in: Current issues in language planning 2011-08, Vol.12 (3), p.363-379
• Main Authors: Moriarty, Máiréad, Pietikäinen, Sari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Case Studies; Comedy; Comparative Analysis; grass-root initiatives; Inari Sámi; Irish; Language Maintenance; Language Minorities; Language Planning; media; micro-level language planning; Music; Musicians; rap; Sociolinguistics; Uncommonly Taught Languages
• ISSN: 1466-4208; 1747-7506
• DOI: 10.1080/14664208.2011.604962

The aim of this paper is to examine the increased potential for language change from the micro-level, given the new domains in which minority languages are present in the global era. Drawing on the theoretical notion of sociolinguistic scales this paper presents a comparative account of the changing positions of the Irish and Inari Sámi languages. Specifically, this paper is centred on a comparative study of two media personalities, namely an Irish language stand-up comedian, Des Bishop, and an Inari Sámi rap artist, Amoć, whose success as language-planning actors stems from their use of the mediated space to influence micro-level language planning. By identifying both Bishop and Amoć as micro-level language-planning actors, this paper will examine the potential knock on effects of such initiatives for macro-level language-planning agencies, such as the educational domain, thereby pointing to the potential for increased minority language recovery when such languages achieve new values and functions.