Mari C. Jones, Language obsolescence and revitalization: Linguistic change in two sociolinguistically contrasting Welsh communities. (Oxford studies in language contact.) Oxford: Clarendon; New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. Pp. x, 452.

Abstract

Jones's book should fascinate two audiences: those concerned with the current state of the Welsh language, and those with a more general interest in the phenomenon of language obsolescence. Her presentation is both clearly readable and meticulous in its detail. The work centers on case studies of two sociologically similar but linguistically different communities, Rhymney and Rhosllannerchrugog, situated in different regions of Wales. These studies investigate, in parallel fashion, the varied retention both of Welsh and of its relevant local dialect across the generations. Jones demonstrates greater linguistic retention in the community where Welsh still plays a significant role in everyday social interactions (Rhosllannerchrugog), but her data also illustrate a strong trend in both communities toward the greater use of historically inappropriate forms by younger speakers. Both studies also reveal a recent loss of dialect-specific features, to the point where many schoolchildren in both towns fail even to recognize the local dialect as belonging to their own community. Jones's generational analysis is quite revealing, particularly because the current set of generations have experienced quite different social contexts with respect to the state of the language and its use in official settings.