Questions for Bernard Spolsky

Abstract

This essay is based on a June 2014 interview with Bernard Spolsky, in which he discussed his life with educational linguistics. A self-described “accidental professor,” Spolsky directed the first study of Navajo sociolinguistics, established educational linguistics as a field of study and practice, co-created a national language policy for Israel, conducted seminal language surveys of Māori and Samoan in support of Indigenous language revitalization efforts, and founded this journal. In the context of this work he has published 240 scholarly articles and book chapters and 35 books, including 66 “Recent Publications” written post-retirement. His recent work returns to his original interest in Jewish sociolinguistics. This article considers Spolsky’s remarkable legacy and his continuing contributions to the field of language planning and policy.