National Languages and Language Planning
National and Official languages
In sociolinguistics the distinction between a national language and an official language is generally made along the affective referential dimension, or more precisely the ideological instrumental dimension. A national language is the language of a political, cultural and social unit. It is generally developed and used as a symbol of national unity. Its functions are to identify the nation and unite the people of the nation. An official language, by contrast, it simply a language which may be used for government business. Its function is primarily utilitarian rather than symbolic. It is possible for one language to serve both functions.
Official status and Minority Language
Many minorities would like to gain official status for their languages, but the costs in terms of providing services and information in all official languages are considerable, and most government count them carefully.
What Price A National Language?
Many countries have regarded the development of a single national language as a way of symbolizing the unity of a nation. Over the last hundred years nationhood and independence have been very important political issues throughout the world. In the struggle to establish a distinct national identity, and to secure independence from colonial rule, the development of a national language has often played an important part. The symbolic value of a national language as a unifying rallying point in the fight for independence was quickly appreciated.
Planning For a National Official Language
Form, Function and Attitude
There are four steps involved in developing a code or variety
1. Selection; choosing the variety or code to be developed .
2. Codification; standardizing its structural or linguistic features.
3. Elaboration; extending its function for use in new domains.
4. Securing its acceptance; the status of the new variety is important, and so people’s attitudes to the variety being developed must be considered.
The Linguist’s Role In Language Planning
1. Codification of orthography
2. Developing Vocabulary
3. Acceptance
Language planning is defined most simply as deliberate language change. Language planners generally focus on specific language problems. Their role is to develop a policy of language use which will solve the problems appropriately in particular speech communities
