Since the cessation of Soviet hegemony the Baltic Republics have endured drastic changes in their political, economic, social and linguistic situation. The official reinstatement of the respective state languages has been a key feature in the establishment of their newly regained national independence. Consequently, large sections of the…

Post-apartheid South Africa has officially sanctioned multilingualism in a constitution that recognises 11 official languages. However, the status of all of the languages is not perceived as being equal. The majority of South Africans want their children to be educated in English, although this is not their mother tongue, and schools are under…

That English has become a necessary tool in the modern scientist's intellectual equipment, seems to be unquestionable nowadays. English is most likely chosen as the most convenient medium of international communication when the local academic community decides to communicate with the external world. Most Israeli scholars, including those who…

When Botswana gained independence from the British in 1966, a political decision was taken to designate English as an official language and Setswana, one of the indigenous languages, as a national language. This move disregarded the multilingual nature of Botswana society. Furthermore, although not explicitly stated, the use of other languages…

A study examined the genesis or formation and operations of the Communication Skills Project (COMSKIP), whose primary aim was to revitalize the teaching and learning in the Use of English (UOE) curriculum in Nigeria. In the process of accessing the achievements of COMSKIP, there was limited synchronicity between the people who conceived of the…

Excerpts of the interview with Umberto Eco, a prominent semiotician, by two specialists in Esperanto focused on the role of translation, which paradoxically appears to be essential for the existence of a universal language such as Esperanto. Topics addressed include the perceived conflict between the existence of a "perfect," universal…

English and Basque versions of this booklet present information on Euskal Herria, the Basque Country that straddles the Franco-Spanish border. "Euskal Herria" designates both land and people: "the Basque speech community." The area, which constitutes the ancient Kingdom of Navarre, represents the unbroken presence of Basque…

Questions about the appropriate approach to bilingual or multilingual education are discussed. It is noted that bilingualism was formerly reserved for the elite but that bilingual education should be available to all since it promotes a better understanding of world differences. A few examples (Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, Belgium, and…

The role and status of English instruction in Malawi is outlined. The role of English in Malawi as a whole, English instruction within the educational system, language teacher supply and training, and British support for English instruction in Malawi are reported. English is taught as a subject in primary school and is the language of instruction…

This article describes a pilot project in bilingual education, which is designed to enable the Quichua-speaking child to enter the official Ecuadorian educational system after three years of school in Indian communities. The Indian child is instructed in both Quichua and Spanish in the primary grades. (SW)

A framework for discussing the issues associated with language policy in the United States is offered, highlighting the history of the country's diverse language groups and language policies. It is proposed that language politics, and often the policies themselves, reflect the social relations between groups within a society. The history of…

Esperanto can remove the language problem from tourism and bring major moral, economic, and practical advantages for all of humankind. Officials of national and local tourism organizations and companies should encourage its application in various ways, for example, by using it for: publication of publicity materials destined for use abroad; public…

The question of what a national language is good for has been asked and answered many times, and the validity of each answer depends on historical circumstances. Many assume that there is a direct relationship between language and nation. Leibniz argued in 1683, at a time when bilingualism was socially stratifying, that nation and language…

The principal motivation for and main value of the national language concept is its character as a standard for all users, but that standard most often reflects the norms and beliefs of a cultural and economic elite and the "nation" becomes synonymous with the ruling class. It would be more useful to talk about a standard usage imposed on the…

This profile of the English language teaching situation in Botswana examines the role of English in society and in the educational system. The status of English as the second official language is noted, and the English curriculum is described from its beginning in the first primary year through secondary school and the university. Statistics on…