Language Policies and Programs: in Multilingual Societies

LANGUAGE POLICIES

AND PROGRAMS
in Multilingual Societies
Grading System
Quizzes & Assignments 20%
Oral Recitation 15%
Project 15%
Examination (Midterm & Final) 50%
100%
Course Description:
Provides a survey of local and international basic education
language programs and policies that account for issues and
considerations relevant to the engagement of teachers in school
settings
Lets get started
LIVING IN A MULTILINGUAL

SOCIETY
In sociological terms, society refers to a group of
people who live in a definable territory and share the
same culture. On a broader scale, society consists of
the people and institutions around us, our shared
cultures.
S OC I E T Y Arts
history
Norms

Practices
Language Culture
Religion
Fashion
technology
Music
economy
geography politics
Multilingualism is the ability of an individual speaker to
communicate effectively in three or more languages. A
person who can speak multiple languages is known as a
polyglot or a multilingual.
Multilingualism is not just a characteristic of an
individual polyglot. It is also a characteristic of
societies. In the majority of the world,
multilingualism is the societal norm.
QUESTION
1. Why do you think multilingualism is considered as the societal norm?
Layers of Language in a
Society
Glob
al
Lang
uage
s
National/Regional
Languages
Dialects, Creoles, Pidgins
Idiolects, Sociolects, Ethnolects

Global
Language
It essentially refers to a language that is learned
and spoken internationally.
A language becomes a global language mainly due to:
1. Political power of its native speakers

2. Geographic Distribution
3. Education preference in every nation
List of Global
Languages
Advantages in learning global language
Socio-economic perspective
1. Establish diplomatic relations
2. Boost careers
3. Open opportunities for public and private sectors
Sociological perspective
4. Deepens connection to various cultures
5. Gain Perspective/ Cultural Sensitivity
Disadvantages
• weakening and eventually the disappearance of some minority
languages
• insistence on one language to the exclusion of others may also be
seen as a threat to freedom of speech and to the ideals of
multiculturalism.
• linguistic complacency (for natural speakers of a global language)- a
laziness and arrogance resulting from the lack of motivation to learn
other languages.
Task 1
Create an evaluation essay on Japan’s success of marking its name on
the global market despite of monolingual language policy of the
country for decades.
NATIONAL AND
REGIONAL DIALECTS
National Language
It is a language spoken by a large proportion of the
inhabitants of a nation
Does the official
s
language is similar to National Language: Filipino
Official Language: ……………..?
the national language?
Both terms could be might confusing as they deal with the
status of languages on a certain territory. The official language
and the national language are both legal categories that
remain slightly badly defined, leading to confusion and
overlap.
National Language Official Language
Defines the existence of legislation and sovereignty of the

Defines the people of the nation, culture, history. nation.
A national language by default can become the Official An Official language has to be approved legally to
language. become the National language.
Used for general communication. Used for official communication.
Is a socio-cultural manifestation. Is a politico-geographical manifestation.
Has nationalism as the core function. Has nationalism as the core function.
Its function is primarily symbolic. Its function is primarily utilitarian.

National Language: Filipino
Official Language: English
Assignment
Read the article “Filipino, the language that is not one”.
REGIONAL DIALECT
• A regional dialect is not a distinct language but a variety of a language
spoken in a particular area of a country.
• Some regional dialects have been given traditional names which mark
them out as being significantly different from standard varieties
spoken in the same place.
In the Philippines, Its government recognizes
8 regional dialects, and these are:
1. Cebuano
2. Hiligaynon
3. Bikol
4. Ilokano
5. Pampango
6. Pangasinense
7. Tagalog
8. Waray
How important is a regional language in a
multilingual society?
1. Symbol of Social Empowerment
2. Ethnic affiliation (Social Identity)
3. Unity in diversity
4. The regional language wields importance within the region
for it is used as the medium for communicating to its native
speakers.
Minority Dialect
Sometimes members of a particular minority ethnic group have
their own variety which they use as a marker of identity, usually
alongside a standard variety. This is called a minority dialect.
Cebuano
(Regional
Language)
Boholano Bisaya
(Variety of Cebuano) (Variety of Cebuano)
Sample of Lexical differences
BOHOLANO BISAYA
Maajong buntag Maayung buntag
Ahong sinelas Akong tsinelas
Ngari Diri
gigikanan ginikanan

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LANGUAGE POLICIES

Dialects, Creoles, Pidgins

Idiolects, Sociolects, Ethnolects

1. Political power of its native speakers

Defines the existence of legislation and sovereignty of the

Used for general communication. Used for official communication.

Is a socio-cultural manifestation. Is a politico-geographical manifestation.

Its function is primarily symbolic. Its function is primarily utilitarian.

Maajong buntag Maayung buntag

Ahong sinelas Akong tsinelas

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