Professor Leigh Oakes
Small Group Project 2022-23
The fair terms of linguistic integration
In an age of increased immigration, how are newcomers to be integrated fairly and equitably into the languages of host societies? What are the legitimate expectations of newcomers and host societies alike concerning their respective rights and duties in the linguistic integration process? And how should linguistic integration be conceived, especially in host societies whose languages do not enjoy global status and appeal?
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Biography
Leigh Oakes is Professor of French and Linguistics at Queen Mary University of London. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, he completed a BA at the University of Melbourne, majoring in French, Swedish and Linguistics, followed by a PhD, also from the University of Melbourne, investigating the role of language in national identity in France and Sweden. As part of his doctoral research, he spent 18 months at the Centre for Research on Bilingualism at Stockholm University, supported by a scholarship from the Swedish Institute. Since joining Queen Mary in January 2000, he has developed a broader expertise in language policy and planning, continuing to work on France and Sweden while focusing especially on Quebec. In recent years, he has become particularly interested in the linguistic justice debate in political theory and philosophy, and has been involved in promoting the emerging interdisciplinary field of normative language policy.
Biographical details correct as of 20.04.26