Linguistik und Öffentlichkeit: Wer braucht wen und warum (nicht)?

Zur Einführung in das Themenheft

Abstract

This editorial to the special issue “Linguistics and the public: Who needs whom, and why (not)?” introduces the subject by outlining central questions that have shaped the debate for decades: How do academic linguistics and a language-interested public relate to one another? Who addresses whom, with what expectations, and on what grounds of authority? While public interest in language remains consistently high, the visibility and impact of academic linguistics are far less assured. In times of increasing demands for societal relevance and public accountability, the discipline is called upon to reflect on its role between scientific autonomy, applied engagement, and normative expectations. Particular attention is paid to the mediating role of the media and to recurring public controversies surrounding language change, multilingualism, orthography, dialect, and inclusive language. The editorial provides an overview on the contributions that approach the key question from diverse theoretical and empirical perspectives, offering a multifaceted exploration of the responsibilities, limits, and possibilities of linguistics in the public sphere.