Discusses the language policy existing in the "New South Africa," which provides for the use of 11 official languages. The article argues that this policy poses challenges and that the development process is complicated by attitudes that indigenous languages are inferior to English and other Western languages. The study explores the…

Describes switch from secrecy in the plan to realign the inconsistent system of orthography in the Dutch language by the Dutch and Belgian governments to an emotional public controversy. Explores how this struggle turned out to be less a debate on suitable spelling changes than an issue about how legitimate spelling reforms were to be reached and…

Looking at structural issues that have influenced the development of Welsh and English in modern Wales, this article examines lessons gleaned from the construction of a comprehensive bilingual social order. Evidence is included from a variety of sources concerned with language and cultural reproduction. (16 references) (Author/CK)

Discusses the effects of new national economic priorities in Australia and of that country's desire for closer trade and cultural ties in the area on European minority languages and Asian "priority" languages. The article argues that equity and mobility for those with a less preferred language background are best achieved via English…

Responds to an article on aspects of African language policy and discusses the following issues: multilingualism and monolingualism, proposed changes in language policy from the Organization for African Unity and South African initiatives, the language of literature, bilingual education, and whose interests English-language teaching is serving.…

Examines the question of language revitalization against the background of the use of Hebrew as the language of public life in Israel and of Irish as an official language of Ireland. Notes that the organizing principles of nationalism are complex and disputed. The different linguistic outcomes in these two countries point up the complexity and…

Examines the intellectual arguments and thinking that might have accorded primacy to English in Trinidad and Tobago in the colonial period, and the ways in which formal schooling inculcated and imposed English. Draws on school records and evaluations of the curriculum and student performance to analyze how managers policed the English-language…

Discusses the regional identities operating within and influencing the reality of the European Union. Specific focus is on INTERREG, plurilingualism, English as an auxilary language, minority languages, modern languages in secondary and tertiary education, responding to the needs of business, and a national policy toward foreign language…

Presents details of the language shifts among the various sections of the Chinese-speaking population in Hong Kong and analyzes patterns of allegiance. Notes that complex social, economic, and political pressures will affect future language in Hong Kong and that, within the domains of family, work, and others, the use of Modern Standard Chinese is…

Examines the demand for German in the East, the ways in which Germany is trying to meet it and the resulting controversy. Also examines the work of major language and cultural organizations in furthering the study of German in Eastern Europe and notes ramifications for German study in the United States. (37 references) (Author/CK)

A Federal Government Policy in Nigeria aimed at unifying the country through the use of three major languages (Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo) has been inhibited because there are no teachers. Resistance from speakers of other languages to the enforced learning of one of the major languages also seems likely. Maintenance of English is suggested as the…

Five themes are addressed: the role of language planning/policy in marking world events; ethnic revitalization; continuing migration and mobility; differential perceptions of the role of the mother tongue in primary education; and the potential contributions of language planning to educational and national development. (Contains 16 references.)…

Controversy lingers regarding the name of the language spoken in the Spanish autonomous province of Valencia. Although the variety of Catalan spoken there has long been called both "Catalan" and "Valencian," recent controversy has become bitter and often surrounded by violence. Despite the debate, the language is in danger of…

The policy of Arabization is examined as an example of language planning used to pursue and maintain power. The Tunisian language situation is analyzed in terms of education, government administration, and media and general use. It is shown that promotion of Arabization is inconsistent but that bilingualism and biculturalism have been promoted.…

The historical struggle of African Americans, and around Black English Vernacular in particular, suggests that African Americans can be a significant force in the struggle for minority language rights. The African-American perspective on "English Only" is explored through a historical overview and a public-opinion survey of African…