Interethnic contacts are the rule rather tàan the excepticn in Western counties thar have histori-cally experienced immigration and continue to receive newcomers from various linguistic and cultural backgrounds. It is mainly in urban centers that majority speakers are tikeîy to meet l3e"ltti" minority speakers, thus creating numerous occasions forcross-cultural encounters (see Chapter 13, this
... [Show full abstract] volume). Such encounters between unilingual, bilingual, or multilingual speak-ers calr reflect both interpersonal and intergroup dynamics framed in particutar *o"io-poiiti""l settings that are more or less open to linguistic, cuhural, and ethnic divenity. This chapterbegins with a macro-level analysis of communication between ethnolinguistic groups, srardng with state laaguage policies, followed by ethnolinguistic vitality and the cultural âutonomy model. Selected linguistie minorities of Europe andNorthAmerica will be situated in terms of their vitality and wellness in multilingual settings. Acculturation orientations held by language minorities and the dominant language majority constitute fhe rink between *u".-*â misro-level processes accounting for key aspec8 of intergroup communications. The chapter tben focuses on the micro-level analysis of intergroup communication including bilingualism, language behavior, language mainaenance, and shift. These themes are discussed * tl"yi"tut* to intergroup relations that can be situaaed on a continuum ranging from harmonious to prlblematic to conflictual. Key themes covered in the chapter are integrated within the interactive accultura-tion and communicarion model (IACnAy. STATE LANGUAGE POLICI ES Communication between different ethnic groups, whether unilingual or multilingual, occurs in quite varied socio-political senings. Govemment decision makers at the regioaal and naeion-al level play a key role in formulating public policies regarding the co-exisaence of language groups-In democratic states, elected officials representing the dominant majority usuaUyiom-mand greater political weight when the time comes to adopt laws regulating the status *O or" of the majority language relative to that of linguistic minorities. Staae agencies have the mandate 16 implement the status language planning goals defined by elecaed reFresentatives and decision makers-They also conduct the research needed to elaborate policy decisions while also imple-menting the language laws regulating the status and use of ofâcial and minority tanguagei in 100
