Language Planning & Policy

Flashcards covering key concepts, definitions, and frameworks related to Language Planning and Policy.

Language Planning

Involves decisions, actions, and strategies made regarding the use and development of languages within a society.

Status Planning

Concerns societal decisions about which languages to use and how to implement these choices.

Corpus Planning

Involves linguistic decisions regarding the structure and vocabulary of a language.

Example of Language Planning

Deciding which language to use for official business in a multilingual country.

Importance of Language Planning

Critical in multilingual societies, particularly in post-colonial contexts.

Selection (Status Planning Activity)

Deciding which language(s) to choose as official or national languages.

Implementation (Status Planning Activity)

Putting language policies into practice through promotion and education.

Codification (Corpus Planning Activity)

Standardizing language forms such as spelling and grammar.

Elaboration (Corpus Planning Activity)

Expanding the language's functions, such as creating new terminology.

Language-as-Problem

Views language issues as problems that need to be solved; focuses on overcoming obstacles in multilingual societies.

Language-as-Right

Posits that the ability to use one's language is a fundamental human right.

Language-as-Resource

Frames language as a valuable resource that enhances societal capabilities.

Macro Language Planning

Refers to large-scale language policies typically initiated by government entities affecting entire populations.

Micro Language Planning

Focuses on smaller, localized efforts within specific communities or institutions.

Overt Language Policy

Explicit, visible policies that state the rights of linguistic groups to use their languages.

Covert Language Policy

Implicit policies regulating language behavior through social norms without explicit mention.

Key Implications of Language Policy

Overt policies often less important than implicit cultural beliefs shaping language policy effectiveness.

Historical Context in Language Policy

Influences policy evolution based on historical beliefs, traditions, and assumptions about language.

Stewart's Language Functions

Ten functions identified as targets of status planning, including official, educational, and religious uses.

Three Types of Official Language

Statutory, Working, and Symbolic, each with distinct roles in governance and societal function.

Standardization in Corpus Planning

The process of creating widely accepted norms for language use.

Modernization in Corpus Planning

Adapting language to meet new societal needs and topics.