ERIC Number: EJ822424
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 68
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1466-4208
EISSN: N/A
Japan: Language Policy and Planning in Transition
Gottlieb, Nanette
Current Issues in Language Planning, v9 n1 p1-68 2008
This monograph discusses the language situation in Japan, with an emphasis on language planning and policy. Japan has long considered itself to be a monoethnic and therefore monolingual society, despite the existence of substantial old-comer ethnic minorities, and this--with the instrumental exception of English--has been reflected in its language planning and policy until quite recently. Increasing immigration (and hence emergent new-comer multilingualism), technological advances affecting the way people write and a perceived need to improve the teaching of English, however, mean that policies have begun to undergo a rethink. This monograph is divided into three main sections. Under the language profile of Japan I discuss in detail the national language and minority languages; the next section discusses language spread and maintenance through the education system and other means; and I conclude with some thoughts on how language planning and policy might develop in the future. My aim is to give readers a sense of how major language issues in Japan are evolving in such a manner that many of the policies developed during the 20th century may no longer be totally relevant. (Contains 3 tables and 24 notes.)
Descriptors: Language Planning, Official Languages, Monolingualism, Foreign Countries, Immigrants, English (Second Language), Second Language Instruction, Second Language Learning, Language Maintenance, Second Languages, Language Minorities, Public Policy, Social Change, Trend Analysis, Futures (of Society)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Japan
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A