The processes of formulation of language policies have not been researched thoroughly. This paper aims to explore the relationship between ideas, power and agency in language policy-making and specifically with reference to the formulation of language-in-education policy for multilingualism in Ireland. Through an argumentative approach to language…

Research on economic activity in Africa consistently ignores the importance of individuals' linguistic repertoires. We argue that an important contributing factor to the persistence of this lacuna is the lack of visibility of language in the social and economic data that is collected by governments through social surveys. We examine the specific…

This article explores the links between citizenship and race in second-language education through an examination of the ways in which citizenship is linked to English language proficiency within a key Canadian federal adult English as a Second Language assessment document, the "Canadian Language Benchmarks" ("CLB"). It uses…

Australia's language and multicultural policies have constructed the intercultural dimension of Australian identity and practice in a number of different ways relating to different community groups. This paper traces the evolution of multicultural policy from the 1970s until the present through the main national policy documents in order to…

Looks at different ways linguistic ownership can be manifested and focuses on the Eurasian community in Singapore, suggesting that English should be given mother tongue status for that community. Examines government support for such a call. Argues that in the case of Singapore, linguistic ownership is part of an overall government strategy for…

Using Yaounde, Cameroon as an example, this study analyzes the enduring stumbling blocks lying in the path of linguistic policies and in the setting of social, educational, and political agendas acceptable to all in changing multilingual, multicultural societies. Cameroon is an officially bilingual country carved out of an aggregate of independent…

Examines a crucial episode in the history of language policy in British colonial education: the orientalist-Anglicist controversy of the 1830s over the content and medium of government education in India. Reassesses Macaulay's influence on British language policy and looks at short-term and long-term consequences of Macaulay's scheme in India and…

Presents a detailed study of the language planning situation in Sweden with particular emphasis on minority languages. Suggests Swedish language policies towards minorities have been nationalistic, reluctant, and directed towards assimilation. (Author/VWL)

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…

Presents a detailed study of the language planning situation in Taiwan. After a general account of the socio-historical context in which the planning activities have taken place, a brief review of what happened in terms of language planning in Mainland China under the Nationalist government between 1911 and 1945 is presented. (Author/VWL)

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…

Reviews variations in levels of English-language proficiency among immigrants from non-English-speaking countries to Australia. Data on 27 of the largest birthplace groups are used from the 1996 census. Discusses immigrants' motivation to learn English and be included in Australian society and Australian policies regarding immigration-selection…

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…

Addresses the issue of language planning in pluralist Ethiopia. Offers an evaluative appraisal of the new policy that considers a number of obstacles to implementation of the policy and questions the move towards the preference of the roman alphabet to the Ethiopic syllabic writing system. (33 references) (Author/CK)