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This paper deals with the mechanisms underlying language choices which are carried out by foreign tourists in the capital of the Czech Republic. This research draws upon the ethnographic approach. The data come from participant observations conducted in restaurants and cafés as well as from interactions with tourist agencies in the center of Prague. Additionally, short interviews with foreign tourists and employees of these tourist facilities were conducted. The results show that most of the foreign tourists and the Czech personnel expect English as a lingua franca to fulfill the basic communicative function in mutual interactions. Apart from that, various electronic tools are often used. They help to solve manifold language problems on the written basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article presents results of a project studying the codes witching (CS) phenomenon in the Sardic-Italian language. The status of the linguistic minority results from their socio-cultural subordination by a majority. The subordinated status results from the often-limited material and immaterial resources as well as from the conditions of the emergence of the minority, whereby a society based on the concept of nation-state gives rise to the classical context for the differentiation of linguistic minority and the majority. The stratification of the status of language and the languages as well as the asymmetry of the contact situations as a rule leads to the fact that the minority language, which is appropriate at the most as a language spoken only within the confines of a household, is often attached with the social stigma and therefore they are abandoned by its speakers.

Copyright of Sociolinguistica is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tourism is the leading economy of the 21st century also for Italy. The language could also benefit from it, which statistically performs very well in many areas (on the world stage, on the internet, in foreign language learning, etc.). Unfortunately, the country's tourist-economic importance does not correlate positively with its language value. Here, the Italian state is asked to do more with investment for the 'visibility' of the language in the tourism sector, e.g. with the opening of foreign ENIT headquarters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides a bibliography of sociolinguistics essays and monographs on language published in Europe in 2011 including "Tra napoletano e siciliano? Randbemerkungen zur Metaphonie im Dialekt der äolischen Inseln," by Roland Bauer, "Sprachen für Europa," by Peter Cichon, and "Ausgrenzung durch Sprache," by Rudolf de Cillia.

The article presents an introduction to the November 2013 issue of the sociolinguistics journal "Sociolinguistica," on topics including the use of language on the internet by Swedes, mass media in Iceland and France, and language and mass media in Estonia.

The article examines the history of the extinct western Yiddish language in the Alsace region, southwest Germany, and Switzerland. Information is provided on the interaction between Yiddish and German languages, the existence of High Alemannic structures in Swiss Yiddish and vice versa is described, and analysis of audio recordings of Yiddish is examined. Examples of code switching by speakers of both High Alemannic and western Yiddish are also provided and the role of linguistic minorities in southwest Germany and Switzerland is described.

A list of sociolinguistics research books and articles is presented including "Sprache/n und Identität/ en in Österreich," by Rudolf de Cillia, "The Language Impact. Evolution – System – Discourse," by Alwin F. Fill, and "Zur Rhetorik von Barack Obama," by Manfred Kienpointner.

A bibliography of books and articles on sociolinguistics is presented, including the books "Didaktik für eine gelebte Mehrsprachigkeit," edited by Peter Cichon and Ludmila Cichon, "Plurilinguismo, multiculturalismo e apprendimento delle lingue: Confronto tra Giappone e Italia," edited by Silvana Ferreri, and "Språkvård och språkpolitik: Svenska språknämndens forskningskonferens i Saltsjöbaden 2008," edited by Lars-Gunnar Andersson, Olle Josephson, and Mats Thelander, volume 11 in the book series Språkrådets skrifter.

The article discusses the development of religious language in human history. Focusing on the prehistoric origins of both language and religions, cults, and ritual practices, the author examines speech patterns such as the slurring of words in a state of religious or ritual trance, the use of taboos, and connections between sounds and magic in certain religious performances. He also traces the development of writing systems and their approach to describing religious phenomena and of the distinction between physical and metaphysical realities in modern civilization.

The article attempts to analyze how well schools in the sixteen different states in Germany are fulfilling the goals of the language policy of the European Union that each student should be proficient in three languages. The author points out that the German law called the Hamburger Abkommen of 1964 required that all secondary pupils must learn English, and that later standards in some German states also explicitly require the learning of French. Also discussed is the great variety of foreign languages offered in German schools, although the largest percentage of pupils graduating from schools of all levels have proficiency in the English language, which is seen as a gateway to learning other languages.

The article presents an analysis of foreign language learning in Italian schools within the context of the stated European Union policy that students should be competent in two foreign languages in addition to the mother tongue. The author states that in Italian schools the English language is an integral part of the curriculum but that other languages are overlooked, a situation which must be changed. The author argues that action is needed at the level of the European Union for reform to take place in Italy. Referred to are works by linguistics professors Gerhard Stickel and Ulrich Ammon.

A bibliography of European sociolinguistics books from 2006 is presented, including "Gelebte Mehrsprachigkeit. Akten des Wiener Koloquiums zur individuellen und sozialen Mehrsprachigkeit," edited by Peter Cichon, "Valéncia im Sprachenstreit. Sprachlicher Sezessionismus als sozialpsychologisches Phänomen," by Max Doppelbauer, and "Linguistic awareness in multilinugals: English as a third language," by Ulrike Jessner.

The article presents information about relations between multilingualism and speakers of both standard language and dialects. Dialect-standard competency is discussed in terms of its presence in German areas of Switzerland. It is described as a form of bilingualism in two related languages or language varieties, often found in children who absorb both the standard language and its regional dialect during their speech-learning process. Results are included from a study seeking to determine whether inhabitants of provincial areas with dialect-standard competency more easily learn foreign languages than speakers of pure standard language or pure dialect.

The article presents a bibliography related to sociolinguistics.

The article discusses issues related to sociolinguistics and social communications. Microanalytic descriptions of social interaction between different ethnic and cultural communities are highlighted. Problems related to intercultural communications are discussed. Issues related to code switching, language crossing and social identity are also discussed.

The article discusses linguistic challenges involved in bilingual education. Theoretical consequences of the difference between monolingual and bilingual languages are discussed. Problems related to bilingual speech acquisition are highlighted. Grammar sets and the morphosyntactic frames of the Matrix language are discussed.

The article discusses issues related to scientific communication in society. Continental and European definition of science is presented. Sociological aspects of science are discussed. Cultural and ethical aspects of scientific activities are highlighted. Dichotomy between the continental-European and the anglo-saxon scientific communication is also discussed.

The article discusses implications of proficiency in interpersonal communication. Linguistic competence is required in the business communication. Efficient communication behavior defines the personality of an individual. Good conversation skills are considered as an important factor in achieving success in life. There is a close relationship between efforts and results. Efforts put in learning professional communication can give impressive results. The discourse analysis on linguistic works indicate that efficiency in spoken language can help in work and personal life.

The article presents a list of books related to sociolinguistics. Some of them are "Language Culture in Europe: An International Handbook," by Bauer Rolland, "The Chronological Development of Ukranish Linguistics in Galicia," by Bieder Hermann, and "Names, Languages and Cultures," by Bauer Rolland.

The article introduces this issue of the journal, which revolves around the theme of religious aspects of language.