A typology of small-scale multilingualism

Aims: The paper aims at providing an exhaustive overview of studies small-scale multilingualism, a type language ecology typical of—but not exclusive to—indigenous communities with small numbers speakers. We identify the similarities and differences among situations such which lay foundations for future typology this kind ecology. Approach data: outline importance ideologies multilingualism in societies, highlight sources ecology, special focus on impact marriage patterns, discuss to what extent are truly egalitarian symmetric, survey different methods used study domain. In order do so, we devoted indigenous all continents: New World (especially South America), Australia, Melanesia, Africa, Europe Asia. Conclusions: multilingual ecologies pre- postcolonial world extremely diverse, many factors playing role their constitution. They also highly endangered, thus is utmost urgency. Originality: domain still novel sociolinguistics linguistic anthropology. Although researchers working groups have been describing peculiarities repertoires, acquisition attitudes various parts world, lacks comparison generalizations that provide here. Significance: increased interest has boosted by realization its significance reconstructing social conditions favoured diversity precolonial world. Furthermore, insights into multilingualism—which differs considerably from better-studied bi- urban contexts large nation states—are prime better understanding human faculty.