Editorial

This journal is particularly attentive to the development of language policy questions in particular countries or regions. Each area has its own specificity, rooted in history and buffeted by events, but at the same time each displays patterns that contribute to a deeper understanding of the field of language policy. In the present number, we are pleased to publish five substantial articles on different areas.

The first article, by Irina Kraeva and Natalia Guermanova, presents an analysis of language legislation in the Russian Federation (RF) since the dissolution of the USSR. It shows that language legislation in the RF reflects the changes in the balance of power between the central federal authorities and the constituent republics, and suggests that it reveals a 'pendulum swing' pattern. In the second article, Abhimanyu Sharma examines the role of power and ideology in language policies in Scotland, focusing on how policies promote certain languages whilst disadvantaging others. He shows how the role of power in policymaking has changed since the devolution of powers in 1998 and how the changes in socio-political context are reflected at the text of legislation.

Shona Whyte shows how the increasing internationalisation of French higher education has been felt in three major sectors of foreign language education: literary and cultural studies, languages for specific purposes, and certification. She shows that France differs from neighbouring countries by the historical schism between second language acquisition and language didactics. She suggests that new interdisciplinary research networks offer ways to encourage collaboration between different interests.

Josep Soler and Iker Erdocia analyse the debates about languages in Catalonia sparked by the publication in April 2016 of the Manifest Koiné, written by a group of linguists and language professionals. They examine the content of the manifesto and the reactions it led to in the press, suggesting it reveals a good deal about the changing nature of the language ideological landscape that Catalonia has experienced over the last decades. For their part, Perizat Yelubayeva and Aliya Mustafina take the example of students at Kazakh Ablai Khan University to examine the impact of using culturally aware collaborative technologies. They argue that these have a positive impact on language learners' personal and professional development with greater understanding of social and cultural issues, ethical awareness and intercultural communication.

In the Interventions section of this number, we have responded to the dreadful crisis caused by the spread of coronavirus across the world by offering a first mapping of the issues raised in recent discussions concerning languages in relation to the crisis. This reviews some early contributions by scholars along with material from magazines, newspapers, online publications, blogs, official documents and other sources. It identifies seven broad areas of interest for languages and argues that they confirm the role of languages at the heart of human life. They also suggest an urgent need for more research into the issues that are emerging. This journal will particularly welcome new areas of research and new ideas in these and other domains relating to language policy.