Language

In the small but growing literature on linguistic justice, it is possible to identify two main approaches. One framework emphasizes the instrumental importance of language for distributive justice. From this perspective, although language policies and patterns of language use are not themselves a matter of distributive concern, these or other linguistic facts may be consequential for the distribution of that which does matter for justice. The other framework attaches at least some non-instrumental importance to language. From this point of view, part of what makes a distribution just is that it appropriately attends to the interests that people have in the use, the success, and/or the treatment of their languages. The present contribution explores both of these approaches and argues that each makes a valid contribution to a theory of linguistic justice.