Language planning

This article is about the field of language planning and policy. For details on the creation of planned or artificial languages, see Constructed language. For applied computational linguistics, see language engineering.
Sociolinguistics
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In sociolinguistics, language planning (also known as language engineering) is a deliberate effort to influence the function, structure or acquisition of languages or language varieties within a speech community.[1] Robert L. Cooper (1989) defines language planning as "the activity of preparing a normative orthography, grammar, and dictionary for the guidance of writers and speakers in a non-homogeneous speech community" (p. 8[2]). Along with language ideology and language practices, language planning is part of language policy – a typology drawn from Bernard Spolsky's[3] theory of language policy. According to Spolsky, language management is a more precise term than language planning. Language management is defined as "the explicit and observable effort by someone or some group that has or claims authority over the participants in the domain to modify their practices or beliefs" (p. 4)[4] Language planning is often associated with government planning, but is also used by a variety of non-governmental organizations such as grass-roots organizations as well as individuals. Goals of such planning vary. Better communication through assimilation of a single dominant language can bring economic benefits to minorities but is also perceived to facilitate their political domination.[5] It involves the establishment of language regulators, such as formal or informal agencies, committees, societies or academies to design or develop new structures to meet contemporary needs.[6]

  1. ^ Kaplan B., Robert, and Richard B. Baldauf Jr. Language Planning from Practice to Theory. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters ltd., 1997
  2. ^ Cooper, Robert (1989). Language planning and social change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 30. ISBN 9780521333597.
  3. ^ "Spolsky Bernard". Department of English Literature and Linguistics. Bar Ilan University.
  4. ^ Spolsky, Bernard (2009). Language Management. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  5. ^ Cobarrubias, Juan. "Ethical Issues in Status Planning." Progress in Language Planning: International Perspectives. Eds. Juan Cobarrubias and Joshua Fishman. New York: Mouton Publishers, 1983.
  6. ^ Language: An Introduction, Lehmann, W.P., 1983, Random House