Language has an immense effect on society - and vice versa. Language reflects social relations and also functions as an instrument of interpretation and power. In the development of the modern nation language has had the important role of standardizing and institutionalizing mores. In this volume philologists and historians study the role of language as a cultural and historical vehicle based on the example of Eastern Middle Europe. Other themes addressed include the preparation of dictionaries, the tense relationship between status planning and everyday practices, and the institutional approach to polyglotism.

Dr. Klaas-Hinrich Ehlers ist Privatdozent an der FU Berlin und Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter am Collegium Carolinum in München. Dr. Marek Nekula ist Professor für Bohemistik und Westslavistik an der Universität Regensburg. Dr. Martina Niedhammer ist Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am Collegium Carolinum, Forschungsstelle für die böhmischen Länder, in München. Dr. Hermann Scheuringer ist Professor für Deutsche Philologie (Sprachwissenschaft) an der Universität Regensburg.