A discussion of language policy formation and planning in New Zealand focuses on the need for a national languages policy and governmental human resource development planning. It includes "unplanned" language planning; the multilingual/multicultural situation, including Maori, Pacific Islands, other, international, and English languages;…

A discussion of language policy formation and planning in Hong Kong covers the following: language use, change, and shift (including Chinese dialects, written Chinese, Mandarin, and English); the legal system; educational developments. Reasons for the lack of language planning are noted. (Contains 111 references.) (LB)

Guosa, a language constructed by Alex Igbineweka from words and word forms in major and minor Nigerian languages, has been proposed as a national language for Nigeria. This article suggests that Guosa is an unacceptable planned language and has no guiding principles or scientific methods. (eight references) (Author/LB)

A discussion of the language situation in India focuses on the demand for inclusion of the Manipuri language in a list of privileged languages in the Indian constitution. The general language situation in India, linguistic reorganization of its states, population composition, and related linguistic issues are examined. (15 references) (Author/MSE)

Problems facing the literacy movement in the Solomon Islands are related to communication, economic, and linguistic barriers. The island is linguistically diverse. English is the official language, but a national literacy committee found that only 26% of people could speak English. Improving primary education is a government priority. Training of…

This review covers the status of languages and literacy in the countries of southern Africa, policies of literacy promotion, and the emerging symbioses among spoken languages and among literacies in mother tongues, national or official languages, and metropolitan languages. Five statistical tables are included. (66 references) (LB)

Traces the development of Ecuador's program of indigenous bilingual intercultural education. Describes the acceptance of a common alphabet for all indigenous languages; the "Macac" educational model; and the creation of bilingual primary and secondary schools and teacher training colleges. Stresses the importance of intercultural…

Discusses possibility of losing 90% of the existing 6,000 modern languages and importance of preserving languages and cultures. Government policies, including those of the United States, have contributed to this loss by imposing state languages to peoples and forbidding and punishing the use of native languages. Of the 207 native languages of…

English-only proponents cite linguistic divisions in Canada and Belgium as reason to avoid bilingualism. Data on language shift, language demographics, and language prestige indicate that the situations in these two countries are not comparable to the United States. A better lesson to draw from these two countries' experiences is that coercive…

Discusses attempts in the United States to make English the only official language and the motives underlying these activities. The article argues that the present mood of nativism poses a serious threat to English-as-a-Second-Language professionals and discusses the role of U.S. English, Inc., the major organization advocating language…

Examines the use of English as the "lingua franca" in Fiji and analyzes the reasons for the rapid growth of the manufacturing industry there. The article reviews publications discussing adult literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL), and communication on the island. It is concluded that the manufacturing industry will see the benefit…

Language planning for literacy has typically focused on models of provision of print-based literacy programmes in order to develop widespread literate capabilities in reading and writing. This paper argues that contemporary literacy planning needs to consider more than models of delivery and engage with issues related to defining the nature of…

This monograph will cover the language situation in Mexico; a linguistically very complex country with 62 recognised indigenous languages, the "de facto" official language, Spanish, and some immigrant languages of lesser importance. Throughout the monograph, we will concentrate on three distinct challenges which we consider relevant for…

Despite the fact that the twentieth-century ecumenical movement was coeval with the beginning of a "language revolution" and the "theology of crisis," it was only at the beginning of the present decade that the problem of unity in verbal formulations reached the agenda of the World Council of Churches (WCC). At that time the…

While English was supported as an official language in India during her pre-independence days, it was during the post-independence days that English bilingualism became widespread. The influence of English can be seen in higher education, elementary and secondary education, national institutions, in the press, and in broadcasting, publishing, and…