A paradigm of inequality: Critical mass and insecurity in minority language policy

This article will engage with the question of whether legislation is necessarily effective in terms of changing individual and group behaviours. The central argument is that, although legislation that prohibits specific conduct is likely to impact upon behaviour, permissive legislation will not alter behaviour unless that which is enabled is also facilitated within society. The particular focus of this article will be to argue that the legislation pertaining to the use of the Welsh language in Wales, despite having expanded the domains of language use in an important way, has not shifted the cycle of language non-use that may be identified.