Language Planning
Language Planning: Nature and Goals
1. INTRODUCTION
Using the definition of language planning from Coulmas (2005: 186) which reads thus; “Language planning involves making informed choices about language…” as a point of departure, this essay will attempt to firstly provide a thorough definition of the notion of language planning, as well as explain the relation between language planning and language policy. Secondly, this essay will define and discuss ideological language planning and normative language planning as well as the nature and goals of language planning with regard to who exercises choices for whom, when these choices are exercised and why they are exercised within the South African context, by paying particular attention to the establishment of South African National Language Policy Framework, the role of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) and the South African Languages Act that was proposed by PanSALB. 2. THE THEORY OF LANGUAGE PLANNING
While Coulmas (2005: 186) argues that “Language planning involves making informed choices about language…” the theory of language planning may be described as a process which is systematic and is based on theory at the societal level. This process is conducted by official bodies and it is aimed at solving language problems, with the goal of increasing welfare for the population that is living under the jurisdiction of the official body (Grin in Webb 2002: 37). In addition, Mesthrie (2002: 420) describes language planning as a conscious and deliberate activity that is future oriented, encompassing the process of decision making. Furthermore, language planning may be described as a theory that is relevant to bilingual or multilingual societies, in support of the definition that is provided by Yule (2010: 289) which argues that language planning refers to “choosing and developing an official language or languages for use in government and education. As mentioned above, language planning is conducted by
1. INTRODUCTION
Using the definition of language planning from Coulmas (2005: 186) which reads thus; “Language planning involves making informed choices about language…” as a point of departure, this essay will attempt to firstly provide a thorough definition of the notion of language planning, as well as explain the relation between language planning and language policy. Secondly, this essay will define and discuss ideological language planning and normative language planning as well as the nature and goals of language planning with regard to who exercises choices for whom, when these choices are exercised and why they are exercised within the South African context, by paying particular attention to the establishment of South African National Language Policy Framework, the role of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) and the South African Languages Act that was proposed by PanSALB. 2. THE THEORY OF LANGUAGE PLANNING
While Coulmas (2005: 186) argues that “Language planning involves making informed choices about language…” the theory of language planning may be described as a process which is systematic and is based on theory at the societal level. This process is conducted by official bodies and it is aimed at solving language problems, with the goal of increasing welfare for the population that is living under the jurisdiction of the official body (Grin in Webb 2002: 37). In addition, Mesthrie (2002: 420) describes language planning as a conscious and deliberate activity that is future oriented, encompassing the process of decision making. Furthermore, language planning may be described as a theory that is relevant to bilingual or multilingual societies, in support of the definition that is provided by Yule (2010: 289) which argues that language planning refers to “choosing and developing an official language or languages for use in government and education. As mentioned above, language planning is conducted by
Bibliography: Coulmas, Florian. 2005. Sociolinguistics: The study of speakers’ choices. New York: Cambridge University Press http://www.dac.gov.za/nationallanguagepolicyframework.html http://www.pansalb.org.za/pansalbhistory.html http://www.pansalb.org.za/southafricanlanguagesact.html Mesthrie, Rajend. 2002. Language in South Africa. Cape Town: Cambridge University Press Webb, Vic and Du Plessis Theodorus. 2006. The politics of language in South Africa. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers Webb, Vic. 2002. Language in South Africa: The role of language in national transformation, reconstruction and development. Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Co. Yule, George. 2010. The Study of Language. United States of America: Cambridge University Press