Cooper 1989 defines language planning as the activity of preparing a normative orthography, grammar, and dictionary for the guidance of. In terms of official policy, the sole foreign language taught in. Language policy for education and development in tanzania. Language planning is a deliberate effort to influence the function, structure, or acquisition of languages or language variety within a speech community. Spring 2011 volume 9 issue 2 posted on 20110616 11. Dada department of english, university of adoekiti, nigeria. Language policy implementation in multilingual nigeria. Language teaching and language policy in nigeria request pdf. In schools, the result was an imposition of english language and anglo culture on minorities, which goes back to the deculturation of american indians through the system of englishonly boarding schools.
Eric ej824107 language policy and planning in nigeria. Two main modern pronouncements on language policy in nigeria merit our attention, to wit the national policy on education 1977, revised in 1981, and the 1979 constitution, which is more cited than its 1989 reincarnation. Recent developments in language planning, policy and implementation in south africa have led to a view that language policy is a text that is in a constant state of productivity, and it is always. Language planning and policy arise out of sociopolitical situations where, for example, speakers of various languages compete for resources or where a particular linguistic minority is denied access to basic rights. On the other hand, other scholars such as bernard spolsky, robert b. On the one hand, it is possible to locate the origins of language policy as a subfield within applied linguistics dating back some 50 years, and coming of age as a discipline unto itself within the last 25 years. This paper argues from a different trajectory of diaglossic language policy such that gives functional roles to both. There are, however, a good number of other wellresearched papers which cater for topics not directly related to the theme, but of relevance in the study of languages, linguistics, literature and culture in nigeria. Court interpreters act of 1978, which provides an interpreter to any victim, witness, or a defendant. Hausa, yoruba and igbo are the three major languages in nigeria.
This volume focuses on language planning in the cameroon, sudan and zimbabwe, explaining the linguistic diversity, historical and political contexts, current language situation including languageineducation planning, the role of the media, the role of religion and the roles of nonindigenous languages. Documents such as the national constitution merely allude to language policy, but stop short of fully declaring a position. It is often associated with government planning, but is also used by a variety of. Kaplan and joseph lo bianco argue that language policy is a branch of applied linguistics. Three nigerian indigenous languages, namely hausa, yoruba and igbo, have been constitutionally recognised as major languages among the. While attention is given to the historical develop ment of nigerias language policies, the focus of the paper is on the nature and. Language policy and planning in nigeria researchgate. To a country like nigeria with over five hundred living languages, the relevance of language policies and planning, at least educationally, economically, politically and socially has never been in doubt. Language planning refers to various ways of influencing a language to raise its status and to modify its system and structure. Prior to this policy related to universal basic education, nigerians needed to study six years to complete their primary education, three years for junior secondary, three years for senior secondary, and four years to finally complete tertiary education. One of the reasons on why its success rate has been very limited is the. The need for a multilingual language planning and policy.
Pdf language policy and planning for education in cameroon. Toward the development of a multilingual language policy in nigeria. In 1977, an official document titled national policy on education was promulgated which was revised in 1981, 1998 and 2004. This volume covers the language situation in algeria, cote divoire, nigeria and tunisia, explaining the linguistic diversity, the historical and political contexts and the current language situation, including languageineducation planning, the role of the media, the role of religion, and the roles of nonindigenous languages. Implementing the national language policy in nigerian schools. Since that time, language planning activities in nigeria, as in most. Federal republic of nigeria that we can talk about language policy and planning in nigeria. The fourth discusses language maintenance and language shift in nigeria with respect to the indigenous languages and english, the exoglossic language. They are divided into a complex nexus of interrelated clans. Language policy is the plan of course of action of a dynamic programme in directing language affairs as needed by government. Toward the development of a multilingual language policy. Ruth adebile introduction the goals and overall philosophy of education in any nation is the prerequisite to.
In july 2001, the council submitted its advice to the minister in a report entitled language policy framework for south african higher education. Language policy in nigeria international journal of humanities. Fishman and ofelia garcia consider it as part of sociolinguistics. Language policy and planning in nigeria article in current issues in language planning 53. Language policy and educational development in africa.
Zarruk, rabiu a discussion of nigerias national language policy looks at the official structure for language instruction, its rationale, and perceived problems and possibilities. About 75 percent of the total figures of the nigerian indigenous languages belong to this core. Introduction purpose of the guide this guide is intended to support first nations communities, governments, schools and language authorities across british columbia in the implementation of language policies and programs that lead to. This paper presents findings from an exploratory study of foreign language planning in saudi arabia. Traditionally, the discourse on language policy in the u. Educational policies and problems of implementation in nigeria. Pdf language planning, policy and implementation in. The policy requires that the mother tongue or language of the immediate community be the medium of instruction at preprimary and early primary levels, with english emerging as medium of instruction halfway through primary education. The importance of language planning in nigeria cannot be underestimated especially as it affects arabic language as well as other minority languages. Thus, the typical practice in south african schools is to use the mother tongue through. This attempt may center on either its status with regard to some other languages or its internal condition with a view to changing that condition baldauf jr, 2005, oluwole. Court interpreters act of 1978, which provides an interpreter to any victim, witne. As the main agent in the process of language planning, government usually utilizes language planning to achieve its covert or noncovert aims such as political stability and economic.
Language policy and planning for education in cameroon and. According to kachru 1991, one of the parameters that help in sharpening the conceptualization of language policy is pressure. Language planning also known as language engineering is a deliberate effort to influence the function, structure or acquisition of languages or language varieties within a speech community. Macro language policy and planning and lack of proficiency. Ruth adebile introduction the goals and overall philosophy of education in any nation is the prerequisite to the formation of language policy and planning for education. Though the language policy is quite laudable favouring the promotion of the indigenous languages and french language as a language of diplomacy and international relation, proper implementation of the policy provisions and most especially the teaching and learning of french language in a multicultural and multilingual country like nigeria still. Choosing a national language among the existing indigenous languages has become a complicated issue and a subject of controversy among the diverse ethnic. He has published numerous articles in refereed journals, is author of the language planning situation in south africa 2001, and coeditor of language and institution in africa 2000. Language policy is an interdisciplinary academic field. This followed the decision of cabinet in 1999 to prioritise the development of a language framework for higher education. However, it was not until 1947 that a language policy was written into the nations constitution. Kaplan and joseph lo bianco argue that language policy is a branch of applied linguistics as a field, language policy used to be known as language planning and is related. Language policy, planning and management in nigeria. Prospect for national unity dare williams omotoyinbo1a abstract various studies on the national policy on education npe have concentrated on the cognitive value of pedagogy and learning of the language aspect but few have viewed its importance on the togetherness of the nation nigeria.
This paper examines nigerias language policies in terms of i the historical, sociolinguistic, political, educational, and ideological contexts in which they arose. Decisions about language policies, requirements, and practices have important consequences in all social contexts. Language planning and policy werner kummer with stephan gramley every planned intervention by a subnational, national, or supranational political organization which is directed toward the otherwise unregulated development of a language or any of its varieties can be regarded as an act of language planning and language policy. His research interests include language policy and planning, codeswitching, world englishes, language and identity, and african. According to kachru 1991, one of the parameters that help in sharpening the conceptualization of language policy is. A policy ensures consistency of action because an organisation is governed by approved principles. The majority of the papers address the main theme of this project. Language policies and planning in nigeria have hitherto not been realistically responsive to the linguistic diversity in the country. This document assigned different functions to the many nigerian languages in the nations education at various levels.
Language policy and planning in south africa annual. Types of language planning language planning involves three activities. Planning is the intellectual anticipation of possible future situations, the selection of desirable situations to be achieved objectives and the determination of relevant actions that need to be taken in order to reach those objectives at a reasonable cost. A policy is a principle or protocol that guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes.
Pdf language planning, policy and implementation in south. Political factors, essentially and constantly impact on language planning, are considerations that relate the general policy of a country to its language policy. The authors are indigenous andor have been participants in the. According to nyatiramahobo 2004, botswanas language education policy is not written. Implementing the national language policy in nigerian. In the various attempts at language policy and planning in nigeria, recognition has been accorded to the major languages, and to some extent, languages of state importance, to the detriment of those in the minority category. In the various attempts at language policy and planning in nigeria, recognition has been accorded to the major languages, and to some extent, languages of state importance, to. I go on to explore the failings of educational language policy as it now stands, focusing on the jarring transition from swahilimedium primary school to englishmedium secondary school. Arabic language, language planning, language policy, nigeria introduction language planning may be seen as an attempt to interfere. Mar 16, 2019 language planning and policy arise out of sociopolitical situations where, for example, speakers of various languages compete for resources or where a particular linguistic minority is denied access to basic rights.
Arabic language, language planning, language policy, nigeria introduction language planning may be seen as an attempt to interfere deliberately with a language. Kamwangamalu is professor of linguistics at howard university, usa. Language policy and planning for education in cameroon and nigeria. Language planning refers to deliberate efforts to influence the behavior of others with respect to the acquisition, structure, or functional allocation of. Language policy and planning decisions have a major impact on language vitality and, ultimately, on the rights of the individual.
Goal the language education policy provides direction for the treatment of language issues in the jamaican educational context, in order to improve language and literacy. While these two policies have different objectives, they complement each other and should at all times be read together rather than separately. Okoroma educational policies and problems of implementation in nigeria 247 a policy brings about a meaningful relationship between business objectives and organisational functions as it discourages deviations from planned courses of action. The implementation realities of language planning in nigeria are the main focus of this paper. The core section of the monograph investigates language policy and planning, with an emphasis on the mother tongue medium or first language policy and the multilingual policy. The politics of language planning in education in nigeria. The paper examines elements affecting language policy and planning, and their impact on education in africa, with a focus on nigeria. This paper draws upon drawn on morgans theory of organisational bureaucracy to explore how the interconnections and alliances between bureaucratic mechanisms, and educational agencies can inform how educational policies fail in nigeria and the africa region. Academic involvement in language policy and planning in south africa must be seen within the context of the countrys sociolinguistic complexity and the relationship between language and a number of serious problems in the country. This paper argues for a multilingual language policy that takes into account the different tiers of languages in nigeria, particularly, languages with lesser number of speakers than the major languages.