While researching the languages of Japan as part of the country's history of thought, Heinrich (Dokkyo U., Japan) discovered a small branch of linguistics in Japan that deals with problems of national language. He has delved into that area for some years now, and here explores not just the problems of a national language in Japan, but also the problems caused by the idea of a national language. His topics include the call of Mori Rinori to replace Japanese, the linguistic assimilation of Ryukuyuans and Ainu, the most beautiful language in the world, and language ideology as a self-fulfilling prophecy. Distributed in the US by UTP Distribution. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)