On language ideology and education policies: A conversation with Thomas Ricento

Abstract

Dr. Thomas K. Ricento is a professor emeritus of education at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary in Canada. In 1987, he received his PhD degree in applied linguistics from the University of California, Los Angeles. Around his research interest in language policies in the context of minority languages in North America, he has conducted numerous international projects. He is the editor of the foundational reference work An introduction to language policy: Theory and method. Also, he is the author of the recent book Refugees in Canada: On the loss of social and cultural capital and has numerous books published in international venues. He has co-edited special issues in well-established journals such as TESOL Quarterly and Language Policy. Furthermore, his articles appeared in venues such as Journal of Sociolinguistics, Discourse & Society, and Journal of Language, Identity & Education. On 17 April 2023, Dr. Huseyin Uysal conducted this interview with Dr. Ricento virtually. Later, he transcribed the recorded audio and edited the text to maximize the readability.