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How have historical events influenced language planning policies in various parts of the world?

Tishie Margetson

Historical events have played a significant role in shaping language planning policies in different parts of the world. The significance of historical events in language planning policy might depend on factors like colonialism, slavery, immigration, political history, and educational history, amongst others.

Colonialism, for instance, has influenced language policies in various countries significantly. A good example is India, where the British colonized them for centuries. English became a language of great importance in India, and it gave rise to a conscious language planning policy to make English a second language as a means of improving economic growth through increased international trade. The policy to promote English as a means of globalizing the economy made it challenging for other languages to maintain their status and prestige.

Similarly, slavery has influenced language planning policies globally. For example, in the United States, slaves were prohibited from learning to read and write. This situation led to African American English, a language that emerged through the modification of English by slaves in the southern United States. However, this language was viewed by the majority white population as a sign of low education and status. As such, it was subject to discrimination and was devastated by the stigmatization of African American people.

Political history has also influenced language policies. For instance, in South Africa, apartheid policy enforced white dominance by imposing the use of Afrikaans and English as the exclusive language of administration and instruction in public schools. Black languages were only viewed as inferior and were not taught in schools. The African National Congress (ANC) government has since abolished apartheid policies by promoting multilingualism and teaching all eleven official languages in schools.

Furthermore, the history of immigration has influenced language policy in various parts of the world. For example, the United States has had a rich history of immigrants from different parts of the world. This diversity has resulted in the adoption of English as a dominant language, while Spanish has become a widely used means of communication, especially in areas with high concentrations of Hispanic/Latinx populations.

The history of education has also played a significant role in language policy. One example of this is the influential factor of Latin and French on English during the Middle Ages. Latin was used for religious instruction and taught in schools, while French was spoken by the ruling elite. These factors led to a conscious language planning policy of making English a prestige language during the Renaissance.

In conclusion, historical events have influenced language policies in various parts of the world, shaping different language policies and shifting them over time. These policies are based on the ways in which societies have responded to the political, social, and economic pressures of various historical events, with the ultimate goal being the promotion of dominant languages over others. Despite the historical factors that have contributed to language planning policy, we must recognize and accept that each language has value and that promoting multilingualism is essential in preserving diversity and inclusivity in our society.