This article makes a case for the existence of a minority language hierarchy in New Zealand. Based on an analysis of language ideologies expressed in recent policy documents and interviews with policymakers and representatives of minority language communities, it presents the arguments forwarded in support of the promotion of different types of…

Reports on a study that investigated the role and status of Xhosa in a prison located in Grahamstown, a large town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Explored the extent to which members of the prison were aware of language policy, especially with regard to the role and status of Xhosa. (Author/VWL)

A short outline is provided of former Soviet language policy and how linguistic structures of the Russian language should be imposed on other languages of the empire. The development is illustrated by tendencies in the structure of present-day Estonian. (five references) (JL)

Focuses on language choice in Eritrea within the broader context of language policy in multilingual states. Pre-colonial and post-colonial language policies are surveyed in relation to evolving linguistic and political nationalism. Post-independence language policy is examined from the perspective of the functional allocation of nine Eritrean…

Discusses the official system of trilingualism and the dual-language education system in Vanuatu, suggesting that these place enormous strains on Vanuatu's infrastructure. Appropriate multilingual development for the future requires that fundamental issues of constitutional interpretation and definition of language policy be resolved. (Author/VWL)

The role of Tanzania's first President in promoting Swahili is outlined, and language policy is seen as one of the inevitable components of crises management. The recent reversal of an early policy of eventual Swahili-medium secondary and higher education is noted. (42 references)(JL)

Synthesizes theoretical typologies in the fields of ethnic relations, ethnonationalism, and sociolinguistics into a sociopolitical framework for analyzing various types of ethnolinguistic minority situations. Particular reference is made to minority situations in Europe, North America, and developing countries. (35 references) (Author/CB)

Focuses on issues raised in the late 1990's by the debate about the second major piece of language legislation in Catalonia. Catalonia is a region where devolution and language policies in favor of regional language may have reached limits that are not so much imposed by the national state as by demographic developments within Catalonia itself and…

Suggests that in light of the state of many of the minority languages within the European Union, there are numerous policy imperatives and implications that needs to be addressed in relation to further development of European language policy. Outlines briefly what these might involve by highlighting key principles and discussing these from a…

It is argued that the relationship between Kiswahili and ethnic community languages in Tanzania is not diglossic. The paper applies definitions/redefinitions to the Tanzanian sociolinguistic profile, considers Tanzanian language policy, suggests the basic tenets of diglossia do not apply, and proposes another term for the Kiswahili relationship…

Analyzes the official (Kuomintang) language policy in Taiwan, which had exalted Mandarin and suppressed other local languages, and the efforts during the last decade to revive Tai-yu, a major language in the post-war period. The dynamics of the Tai-yu language movement reveal a pressing problem facing Taiwan: how to balance national cohesion with…

Addresses the language situation in post-independent Mozambique from both a language-planning and language-policy perspective. Presents an up-to-date profile of the country, discusses the issue of linguistic diversity, and examines the language-spread dynamics in education, literacy, and the media. (Author/VWL)

Analyzes a language plan proposed by the Hong Kong government to promote Chinese as the medium of instruction in the education system. A brief history of the past language situation is provided, and an outline of the evolution of the proposed plan is highlighted. (31 references) (Author/VWL)

Provides data on the acquisition of Basque in the Basque Autonomous Community (Spain). Reports recent data and results of research studies on bilingual education and the use of Basque, and then focuses on one of the language plans developed by the Basque Government: the "Basquisation" of civil servants. Analyzes results of this plan and…

Offers a sociolinguistic appraisal of the representation of languages (as "languages" or "dialects") in the Indian census, with special reference to the status of Maithili. Classifying Maithili as an independent language threatens the homogeneity of the "Hindi belt"; conversely, treating it as a Hindi dialect might…