[Analysis of language mobility: indexes, observations, and models]

"Two methods of analysing language mobility are presented. The first is based on the distinction between structural mobility, which produces a change in the final (or home-language) composition relative to the initial (or mother-tongue) composition, and exchange mobility, which measures the frequency of balanced transfers between each pair of languages....The second method is more conventional in that it relies on the theory of stationary Markov chains. It entails the transformation of language mobility rates into an equilibrium composition. The latter is then compared with the observed compositions. Except in very special cases, this method yields less useful results than the first one, which is better suited to the concerns underlying language mobility research." The geographic focus is on Quebec and Canada. (summary in ENG, SPA)