Abstract The notion of “linguistic minority” not only incorporates the concept of group but also serves to define that group. Yet the relation between language and group can be considered in various ways. The primary function of language being that of communication, this will necessarily play a key role in defining the contours of any group whose language is different from neighbouring languages. Regardless of whether a group is established in a territory, for as long as it practises and asserts its language, the identificatory relation between that language and that group, and its consequences, implies different degrees of awareness. Any linguistic minority draws on structures of its own which are perceived as its own. To be able to categorise it, will mean emphasising the identificatory relation between language and group. In contrast concepts such as “minority language” rely primarily upon the territorialised legitimacy of a language or upon its demolinguistic data. This link with the group can reinforce linguistic consciousness with the help of its own structures, support that “minority language” does not necessarily imply.

中文翻译：

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从群体与少数民族语言之间的识别关系出发，探讨“语言少数”的概念

摘要“语言少数派”的概念不仅包含了群体的概念，而且还用于定义该群体。然而，可以通过多种方式来考虑语言与群体之间的关系。语言的主要功能是交流功能，这必将在定义其语言不同于相邻语言的任何组的轮廓时起关键作用。无论是否在一个领土上建立了一个团体，只要它实践并维护其语言，该语言与该团体之间的身份关系及其后果就意味着不同程度的意识。任何语言上的少数派都利用自己的结构，这些结构被认为是自己的。为了能够对其进行分类，将意味着强调语言与群体之间的身份关系。相反，诸如“少数民族语言”之类的概念主要依赖于一种语言的地域合法性或它的非语言数据。与团体的这种联系可以借助其自身的结构来增强语言意识，支持“少数民族语言”不一定暗示。