Colin H. Williams
Encyclopedia
Colin H. Williams, is Research Professor in Sociolinguistics in the School of Welsh, Cardiff University
.
. He graduated summa cum laude B.Sc Econ in Geography and Politics in 1972. He began his PhD research on 'Language Decline and Nationalist Resurgence' comparing the Welsh
and Québécois
situation.
In 1973 he gained an English Speaking Union Scholarship tenable at the Department of Geography, the University of Western Ontario
' and undertook field work on the challenges facing the French language in Quebec
and Acadia
. Returning to Wales he was appointed an Open University Tutor and a Demonstrator at the Department of Geography, University College of Swansea, 1974-76 before taking up an appointment teaching in the Departments of Geography and Politics and International Relations at North Staffordshire Polytechnic, now Staffordshire University
, where he was successively, Lecturer,Principal Lecturer and Professor of Geography.In 1993. while he was working in Toronto as a Multicultural History Society of Ontario Fellow. he was appointed a Research Professor, School of Welsh, Cardiff University
, the post he occupies currently.
His main scholarly interests are Sociolinguistics and Language Policy in Multicultural Societies, Ethnic and Minority Relations and Political Geography. He is a former Fulbright Scholar in Residence and Visiting Professor, The Department of Geography, Pennsylvania State University
, 1982-83, a SSRC/SHFR Exchange Scholar (1982) and Swedish Institute
Scholar (1988) at the Centre for the Study of International Conflicts, Department of History, University of Lund, and an Adjunct Professor of Geography, University of Western Ontario
, 1994- to date.
In April 2000 the National Assembly for Wales
appointed him to be a member of the Welsh Language Board
. He is an Honorary Professor of Celtic Studies at the University of Aberdeen
, and at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
, University of the Highlands and Islands.
He is the author/editor of numerous books, including:
Co-editor with S.Pertot and T.Priestley,'Rights, Promotion and Integration Issues for Minority Rights in Europe', Palgrave, 2009.
He is currently engaged in research projects on comparing the office of Language Commissioner in Canada and Europe and on the role of Language Boards in Europe.
, and of the Basque Academy's Social History of the Basque Language. In January 2008 he was appointed by the Government of Ireland
as one of six specialists charged with preparing a 20 year strategy for the Irish language.
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
.
Biography
Williams attended Ysgol Gymraeg y Barri and Ysgol Uwchradd Rhydfelen [renamed Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen and now Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg]before pursuing university studies at the Swansea UniversitySwansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
. He graduated summa cum laude B.Sc Econ in Geography and Politics in 1972. He began his PhD research on 'Language Decline and Nationalist Resurgence' comparing the Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
and Québécois
French-speaking Quebecer
French-speaking Quebecers are francophone residents of the Canadian province of Quebec....
situation.
In 1973 he gained an English Speaking Union Scholarship tenable at the Department of Geography, the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
' and undertook field work on the challenges facing the French language in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and Acadia
Acadia
Acadia was the name given to lands in a portion of the French colonial empire of New France, in northeastern North America that included parts of eastern Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and modern-day Maine. At the end of the 16th century, France claimed territory stretching as far south as...
. Returning to Wales he was appointed an Open University Tutor and a Demonstrator at the Department of Geography, University College of Swansea, 1974-76 before taking up an appointment teaching in the Departments of Geography and Politics and International Relations at North Staffordshire Polytechnic, now Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University is a university with its main campus based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and with other campuses in Stafford, Lichfield and Shrewsbury.- History :...
, where he was successively, Lecturer,Principal Lecturer and Professor of Geography.In 1993. while he was working in Toronto as a Multicultural History Society of Ontario Fellow. he was appointed a Research Professor, School of Welsh, Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
, the post he occupies currently.
His main scholarly interests are Sociolinguistics and Language Policy in Multicultural Societies, Ethnic and Minority Relations and Political Geography. He is a former Fulbright Scholar in Residence and Visiting Professor, The Department of Geography, Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, 1982-83, a SSRC/SHFR Exchange Scholar (1982) and Swedish Institute
Swedish Institute
The Swedish Institute is a Swedish government agency with the responsibility to spread information about Sweden outside of Sweden. It exists to promote Swedish interests, and to organise exchanges with other countries in different areas of public life, in particular in the spheres of culture,...
Scholar (1988) at the Centre for the Study of International Conflicts, Department of History, University of Lund, and an Adjunct Professor of Geography, University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, 1994- to date.
In April 2000 the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
appointed him to be a member of the Welsh Language Board
Welsh Language Board
The Welsh Language Board is a statutory body set up by the UK Government as part of the Welsh Language Act 1993. It is now an Assembly Sponsored Public Body...
. He is an Honorary Professor of Celtic Studies at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, and at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is a Scottish Gaelic medium college located about north of Armadale on the Sleat peninsula of the island of Skye in northwestern Scotland. It is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands and also has a campus on Islay known as Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle.The college was...
, University of the Highlands and Islands.
He is the author/editor of numerous books, including:
- Called Unto Liberty: On Language and Nationalism Multilingual Matters, Clevedon, Avon, 1994
- The Political Geography of the New World Order, J. Wiley, London, 1993
- A Welsh Language Board sponsored project on Community Language Planning and Policy, whose first major report was published as Williams, C.H. and Evas, J.C.
- Y Cynllun Ymchwil Cymunedol (The Community Research Project), Welsh Language Board, Cardiff, August 1997, 3rd Edition 2000
- Language Revitalization in Wales: Policy and Planning University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 2000
- Language and Governance, University of Wales Press, 2007
- Linguistic Minorities in Democratic Context, Palgrave, 2008.
Co-editor with S.Pertot and T.Priestley,'Rights, Promotion and Integration Issues for Minority Rights in Europe', Palgrave, 2009.
He is currently engaged in research projects on comparing the office of Language Commissioner in Canada and Europe and on the role of Language Boards in Europe.
Affiliations
He is a member of the Scientific Committee of Lingua Mon, BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, and of the Basque Academy's Social History of the Basque Language. In January 2008 he was appointed by the Government of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
as one of six specialists charged with preparing a 20 year strategy for the Irish language.
Sources
- Language Revitalization in Wales: Policy and Planning, University of Wales Press, Cardiff. 2000.
- Language and Governance, University of Wales Press, 2007.
- Linguistic Minorities in Democratic Context, Palgrave, 2008.
- Marquis Who's Who in the World, 2008.