Introduction

The introduction gives an overview of the importance of Professor Colin Williams for the field of minority language policy and discusses the multiple ways he has influenced scholars and policymakers. It explains the aims and contents of the Festschrift and presents summaries of the individual chapter contributions, which are arranged into four parts: Part I: Theorising language policy and regulation (4 chapters), Part II: Language policy challenges in Wales (6 chapters), Part III: Language policy challenges in Canada (4 chapters) and Part IV: Language policy challenges in Ireland, Scotland and Catalonia (4 chapters). The volume concludes with an Afterword by Professor Williams himself.