This article argues that while there exists considerable overlap and potentially productive dialogue between political theory and language policy scholarship, any such effort will be hampered by the dominant approaches to political theory that assume individualistic and instrumentalist conceptions of language. Augmenting the language ideologies…

Until recently, educational language policy in the US has been the chief site of contention about language, as seen in recent initiatives, referenda, and state constitutional amendments. Provision for drivers' licensing testing in languages other than English (LotE), on the other hand, has often exemplified what we call expedient language policy,…

This article provides a textual analysis of the Naivasha language provisions in Sudan in an attempt to explore how political discourse is manifested in each policy statement. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as an analytic and interpretive framework, the article argues that the Naivasha language provisions as political discourse are shaped…

We argue here that the combination of U.S. federal education policy as embodied in the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001" with the passage of a California state initiative that required that "nearly all classroom instruction [be] in English...for a period not normally intended to exceed one year" in 1998 created a "perfect storm" for English…

This paper contributes to a debate on linguistic identity and social participation in France by providing a critical reading of language policy and practice. It challenges the notion that France is a linguistically homogenous nation where a standardised French language is universally practiced and, rather, seeks to reframe linguistic diversity and…

Traces the effects on Australian language policy of a changing sociolinguistic situation--increasing multilingualism--and a weakening of a monolingual ideology. Analyzes the country' s emergence from an assimilationist past to its embracement of a more multicultural approach with special reference to young Cambodian-Australian's educational…

Describes the development of language policy in Lithuania, with the goal of raising the status of the once-oppressed titular national language without trampling on the rights of linguistic minorities. Lithuanian language and education policies have been successful in promoting social integration while safeguarding cultural and linguistic…

Examines the attitudes of educators among four groups of Hebrew-speaking Israeli Haredim Jews towards teaching English at the elementary and the high school levels, examining issues of language policy, and gender and age differentiation. (VWL)

Shows how language policies may superficially remain the same over a short period of time, while their meaning or value may change. Using the University of Cyprus as an example, shows how within the same country, different policies can be claimed to serve the same function and how the same language policy can be interpreted differently, depending…