Language Planning & Policy
Decisions around language policy and planning are made around the globe every day, both
formally by governments and informally by scholars and community leaders. These decisions
influence the right to use and maintain languages, affect language status, and determine which
languages are nurtured. Language policy and planning decisions have a major impact on
language vitality and, ultimately, on the rights of the individual.
Decisions about language policies, requirements, and practices have important consequences in
all social contexts. “Language planning refers to deliberate efforts to influence the behavior of
others with respect to the acquisition, structure, or functional allocation of their language codes”
(Cooper, 1989, p. 45). It may be undertaken with formal, official governmental sanction or
reflected in unofficial and informal practices. Language planning is frequently undertaken for
the expressed purpose of solving communication problems. Nevertheless, ill conceived, poorly
informed policies can result in negative impacts on those affected by them.
Traditionally, there are two dimensions of language planning: “Corpus planning deals with
norm selection and codification, as in the writing of grammars and the standardization of
spelling; status planning deals with initial choice of language, including attitudes toward
alternative languages and the political implications of various choices” (Bright, 1992, p. 311). A
third major type planning that is particularly important for education is known as language
acquisition planning (Cooper, 1989). Choosing which languages will be used as mediums for
instruction is particularly important in acquisition planning as one must not only learn the
language but use it to learn.
History of language Planning and Policy • Language planning and policy was revitalized again
mostly after the newly independent states, in the post-colonial era, needed to reconstruct their
identity (including language) in a context of multi- ethno-linguistic diverse populace.
For exemple: • After Algeria got its independence, its leaders decide to follow a nationalistic
model of nation-building. • This model aims at making most community members alike.
Sharing the same behaviours, thought patterns and certainly the same language.
Why LPP? Language planning and policy come to solve many problems and conflicts in these
states: • Such as the multilingual geographical spread that may cause miscommunication
between people of the same nation • Which language (s) is/are going to be selected and
standardized as the official language (s) of these states.
Language Planning Principles:
Assimilation: This principle states that every person within society should be fluent in that
society’s dominant language. For example: In the USA, the “Only-English Movement”
maintains that everyone in the US should speak English well, regardless of their first language.
Though, the United States never had a legislation that explicitly declares that English is the
official language, yet it is the language used in education, official setting... etc
Linguistic Pluralism : It is the opposite of assimilation. This principle teaches that it is better
to have multiple languages within society. For example: Switzerland with French, German,
Italian and Romansh (all as official languages) Singapore have English, Malay, Tamil and
Chinese as official languages
Vernacularization: It is a principle that wants to restore a native language into a commonly
spoken language. For example: Jews from around the world gathered in the so-called “Israel”
and revived the Hebrew language with success!
Internationalization • This principle promotes adopting a non- indigenous language in order to
communicate easily with other nations. • English now is considered to be global language, and
is taught worldwide.
Stages of Language Planning:
1. Selection: it refers 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) Graphization – developing a writing system. 2)
Grammaticalization – deciding on rules/norms of grammar 3) Lexicalization – identifying the
vocabulary
3. Implementation • Promoting the previous stages (selection, codification) by making society
more exposed to this language by: The production of books, newspapers, education,
administration... etc
4. Elaboration: The stylistic development of a codified language to meet the communicative
demands of modern life and technology
Levels of Language Planning:
1. Status Planning: • Refers to the social and political position a language will be assigned •
This level is done by the government officials • It includes the “selection” and the
“implementation” stages
For example: In Quebec, Canada, politicians have raised the status of French by ordering that
signs must give French more prominence.
2. Corpus Planning • Refers to changes or standardization of certain elements of the language.
E.g. Lexicon, orthography... This level includes “codification” and “elaboration” And it is done
by sociolinguist (linguists in general)
3. Acquisition Planning : It is usually done by government officials or private organizations
that control textbooks and dictionaries... Etc For example: Irish officials ordered that Irish
Gaelic must be taught/ used at least one hour of school every day.
