What are implications of language policies in the lives of real people? What is the relationship between political and economic power and language status?
National language defined: It is the main language of political, social and cultural practices, where people use it as a symbol of their national unity. Official language is the language used by governments for formal functions. In a monolingual community, a national language is usually also the official language, but in bilingual or multilingual communities, it may or may not be the official language. For example: English and French are both official languages in Canada.
Planning for a national official language:
- Selection: selecting the variety or code to by developed.
- Codification: standardizing its structural or linguistic features.
- Elaboration: extending its functions for use in new domains.
- Securing its acceptance: acceptance by people in terms of attitude & prestige.
Nuestro Himno ("Our Anthem")
"Star Spangled Banner" performed in Spanish by
"Star Spangled Banner" performed in Spanish by
Olga Tanon, Wyclef Jean and Carlos Ponce
Although English is the de facto language of government in the United States, we have no de jure official language. In the past three decades, however, 28 states have passed legislation making English their official state language. The history of language and nation in the United States has fluctuated over the course of time.
The Linguistic Society of America's statement on language rights holds that, at a minimum, all residents of the United States should be guaranteed seven basic linguistic rights: the right to express themselves in the language of their choice; the right to maintain their native language and pass it on to their children; the right to a qualified interpreter in government proceedings; the right to have their children educated in a manner that affirms their native language abilities while ensuring their acquisition of English; the right to conduct business in the language of their choice; the right to use their preferred language for private conversations in the workplace; and finally, the right of an opportunity to learn English.
The National Foreign Language Center (NFLC) was founded in the mid-1980s as a direct result of an unprecedented national interest in improving foreign language and international studies education by President Carter's Commission on Language and International Studies in 1979. It was also, and more immediately, the brainchild of its founding director, Dr. Richard Lambert, a sociologist as well as foreign language and area studies expert at the University of Pennsylvania.
This site is dedicated to keeping alive the culture, traditions, and beliefs of the Diné (Navajo People) also referred to as Navajo Indians, a name the site advises is not used or liked by the Diné People. There is also information on language, history, culture and many specific cultural subjects.
The History and the Future of Language Policy in India
This website is a linguistic overview of India. With over 900 million people and more than one thousand languages, India is certainly one of the most linguistically diverse multilingual nations in the world today. Indian leaders chose Hindi as the official language of India in the hope that it would facilitate regional communication and encourage national unity. Aware of the many of difficulties inherent in trying to promote a single language in a multilingual environment, much planning was done. The situation offers an interesting case for the analysis of political and social aspects of language planning and promotion.
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