Language Planning and

Policy
Language Planning

is all conscious efforts that aim at

changing the linguistic behavior of a
speech community.

English vs. German Immigrants

Language Policy

is the more general linguistic,

political and social goals underlying
the actual language planning
process.

U.S. Government vs. Native American

languages
Two types of Language
Planning
Heinz Kloss
1. Corpus Planning is the internal structure of the
language. Activities include a writing system for
a spoken language, initiating spelling reforms,
creating new terms and publishing grammar
books.

2. Status Planning refers to all efforts undertaken

to change the use and function of a language or
language variety within a given society.
Einar Haugens View

Language planning is a technocratic process

concerned with systematizing and cultivating a
standardized language code to solve problems.

Emphasized the importance of the written

standard over the spoken.
Dialects (regional or social) hamper
communication.
Concerned with equality among standard
languages, non-standard languages are
problematic.

Neoclassical-autonomous approach
Neoclassical Approach vs.
Historical Approach Tollefson
(1991)
Neoclassical Historical
Individual choice
Current language situation
Evaluation is in ahistorical
and amoral terms
This model assumes that
the field of applied
linguistics and teachers are
apolitical
Historical-structural
influence of socio-historical
factors on language use
Considers past
relationships between
groups
Concerned with issues of
class dominance and
oppression
Political stance is
inescapable for those who
avoid political questions in
advertently support the
status quo.
Autonomous vs. Ideological
Street (1984)
Autonomous
Literacy is a NEUTRAL
technology which can be
detached from social context
Literacy can be isolated as
an independent variable
Sets up a dichotomy
between written and oral
modes of communication
Ideological
Concentrates on the
social practices of
reading and writing &
recognizes these practices
are culturally embedded
Literacy is a socially
constructed practice
having different meaning
for different groups
Considers overlap of the
oral and literate modes
Haugens Framework
4 Phases of Language
Planning
1) Selection
2) Codification
3) Implementation
4) Elaboration/Modernization
1. Selection

is the term used to refer to the

choice of a language variety to
fulfill certain functions in a given
society.
2. Codification

The creation of a linguistic standard

or norm for a selected linguistic code.
It is divided up into three stages:

1) Graphisation developing a writing system.

2) Grammatication deciding on rules/norms
of grammar
3) Lexicalisation identifying the vocabulary
Western Apache Writing
System

Prayer for Life

Apache Language Today

The Apache language adopted the Latin alphabet for their

written representation, adding symbols to indicate unique
sounds in their language. This was largely due to the
influence of missionaries translating the Bible into the
Apache language.

There are no standardized spellings. Words are spelled

phonetically.

Chris Harvey www.languagegeek.com

3. Implementation
Promoting of the decisions made in the
stages of selection and codification which
can include marketing strategy,
production of books, pamphlets,
newspapers, and textbooks using the
new codified standard.

Implementation can be either vigorous legal enforcement

(Native Americans in BIA boarding-schools) or
encouragement (Spanish province of Catalonia, where
the use of Catalan is encouraged, but not enforced).
Implementation example

Posters in Language Classrooms

4.
Elaboration/Modernization
Refers to the terminology and stylistic
development of a codified language to
meet the communicative demands of
modern life and technology. Its main
area is the production and
dissemination of new terms.

Elaboration is an ever evolving process

Lexical Modernization
Three strategies:

1) Borrowing
2) Extension of the meaning of a native term
3) Creation of the new terms (neologisms)

1) Portable Document File (PDF)

2) Trash Can - (Ko) - Fire
3) Power Cable - (Kqh bitlool) - Electricitys Rope
Boss
Dialects in Thailand
 First Thai script 1283
by Sukhothai's kings, Ramkamhaeng the
Great
 1871, in the reign of Rama V
the Command Declaration on Schooling was issued

Rama V
Language planning: Thai

Since King Rama V (1868-1910)

Official language: Thai
regulated by the Thai Royal Institute
Assimilation policy
Political goal
Acquisition planning: Ministry of
Education
1800s, Rama IV imposed English as a new
educational requirement
Language planning: English in
Thailand
Current compulsory education (year
1-12)
Bilingual schools
International schools (88 established)
Adam
CASE STUDY: SOUTH AFRICA
CASE STUDY: SOUTH AFRICA

South
Africa
 Multilingual vs. Monolingual

Which context viewed as

problematic?

Who decides?
 LANGUAGE AS CODE

VS

LANGUAGE AS SOCIAL BEHAVIOR

Liebowitz (1974)

Language policy as
social control
Ruiz (1984)

Three contrasting views of Language

As a problem
As a right
As a resource
SOUTH AFRICAN
GOVERNMENT
Official stance

South Africa should be a

fully functional multilingual
society
A critique of the official
policy
Too idealistic
Mfanafuthi Mgqwashu
(2004)
 REVISITING THE CASE OF SOUTH
AFRICA AND ITS LANGUAGE POLICY
Language Planning and
Policy