A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Language Policy and Planning in Britain and Ireland (2024)

Sayers, D., & Henderson, L. (2024). Language Policy and Planning in Britain and Ireland. In S. Fox (Ed.), Language in Britain and Ireland (pp. 511-542). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108769617.034

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Sayers, Dave; Henderson, Leanne

Parent publication: Language in Britain and Ireland

Parent publication editors: Fox, Susan

ISBN: 978-1-108-47732-1

eISBN: 978-1-108-76961-7

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 17/10/2024

Pages range: 511-542

Number of pages in the book: 620

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108769617.034

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Abstract

‘Language policy’ is a highly diverse term, encompassing all attempts to purposefully influence language use. Government language policy is broadly considered to have originated as a distinct field of research and policymaking in the 1970s, but we begin the chapter with a historical review of its precursors dating back several centuries. We trace the roots of contemporary language policy to two broad historical developments: Bible translation and universal education. These laid the foundations for what would become language policy. In the contemporary language policy period, we divide our discussion across three fields: modern foreign languages (MFL), indigenous languages and community languages. These categorisations come from policy, not linguistics or sociology. These groups of languages are treated differently in policy, so we divide them accordingly and trace their origins and developments in three political eras from the 1970s onwards: neoliberalism (1970s–80s), New Public Management (1990s–2000s), and austerity (2008 onwards). We show how each field of language policy has been indelibly shaped and contoured by changing political conditions and priorities. Lastly, we consider forms of language that tend to fall outside the scope of government policy, and what extra this reveals about language policy.

Keywords: languages; language policy; English language; sociolinguistics; language issue; indigenous languages; foreign languages; history; neoliberalism; public administration; new public management

Free keywords: language policy; neoliberalism; New Public Management; austerity; modern foreign languages; indigenous languages; community languages; unintended consequences

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 3