Areal language policies
DOI: 10.17976/jpps/2022.01.08
Abstract
Regardless of current globalization and localization processes, national languages are still regarded in political and linguistic discourses as occupying a place of choice in the language hierarchy. Globalization as a process is generating new levels of language scaling, opening a new horizon for language policies. It is considered that “global languages” correspond to the postnational language level. A global language is one used for global communications. English is currently the only global language. Other languages with a considerable influence are called areal languages. The latter are languages of certain regional powers and civilization spaces. Areal languages are defined on the basis of D. Crystal, A. de Swaan and B. Kachru’s theoretical models. Findings are reached by applying comparative methods to supranational languages, which became the material of the study. Actual language areal policy is studied through the example of French language policy. Areal languages include a special form of language policy distinct from the national one. Areal language policies functionally (but not substantially) reproduce the strategy of ancient sacred languages. Their task is to include or “convert” new speakers beyond the pivot states. Areal languages mostly challenge the world language and to a lesser degree they compete with each other. Areal language policies are carried out on status, corpus and language acquisition levels of planning. Status planning is fundamental in an areal language policy and its goal is prestige and attractiveness leading to an extension of a language and its culture. Corpus planning means preservation of the language space and it is realized in the forms of mono- and pluricentrism. Acquisition planning implies creating international communities, educational networks and significant content in mass media.
Keywords
language policies, language hierarchy, globalization, national language, postnational language, areal language, global language, regional power, civilization.
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Bhatia, Tej K. (2008). Major regional languages. In B.B. Kachru, Y. Kachru, S.N. Sridhar. (Ed.) Language in South Asia (pp. 121-132). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Crystal, D. (2009). English as a global language. Cambridge University Press. 212 p.
Dabѐne, O. (2009). The politics of regional integration in Latin America theoretical and comparative explorations. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Darquennes, J., & Soler, J. (2019). ‘New speakers’ and language policy research: thematic and theoretical contributions to the field. Language Policy, 18, 475-491.
De Swaan, A. (2001). Words of the world: the global language system. Malden: Blackwell publ.
Dinçer, O.B., & Kutlay, M. (2012). Turkey’s Power Capacity in the Middle East: Limits of the Possible. In Turkey’s Power Capacity in the Middle East. Limits of the Possible (pp. 7-12). International Strategic Research Organization (USAK). https://www.pomed.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Turkeys-Power-Capacity-in-the-Middle-East.pdf
Graddol, D. (2000). The future of English? The British Council.
Konings, P., & Nyamnjoh, F.B. (2003). Negotiating an anglophone identity: a study of the politics of recognition and representation in Cameroon. Leiden: Brill.
Phillipson, R. (2008). L Lingua franca or lingua frankensteinia? English in European integration and globalization. World Englishes, 27(2), 250-267. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-971X.2008.00555.x
Sharma, B.K. (2018). Chinese as a global language: Negotiating ideologies and identities. Global Chinese, 4(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1515/glochi-2018-0001
Spolsky, B., & Shohamy, E. (2001). The penetration of english as language of science and technology into the israeli linguistic repertoire: a preliminary inquiry. In U. Ammon (Ed.) The dominance of English as a language of science: effects on other languages and language communities (pp. 167-176). Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Wright, S. (2004). Language policy and language planning: from nationalism to globalisation. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
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