Discusses the origins of Soviet sociolinguistics and suggests that the historical significance of the reception and reinterpretation of these ideas is considerable, leading to a reconsideration of the origins of sociolinguistics and the relationship between Marxism and the language sciences in the early years of the Soviet Union. (Author/VWL)

Argues for the survival of the federalist language formula in the European (Economic) Community through a modified, more restricted form so as to be more functional and open to the demands of worldwide communication. It is suggested that, despite its weaknesses, it more adequately reflects the mosaic-like cultural heritage of Europe. (eight…

Reflecting on the situation in Quebec, this paper attempts to offer a fair solution to the problem of the languages of signage. It is suggested that individuals and groups have the right to show their linguistic identity as well as to express themselves in the languages of their choice, provided that the rights of the addressees are also met. (VWL)

Discusses the study of the unprecedented revival of the Hebrew language in Palestine during 1890-1914. The study focused on status planning but corpus planning also served as a critical component. Examines codification during the revitalization period. (Author/VWL)

Describes language policy under Franco, discusses the Catalan government's policies on language, contends that Catalan policies on language are morally permissible in a liberal-democratic society, and recommends the Catalan model for bi- or multilingual settings where governments want to be liberal but do not want or cannot afford going into a…

The ongoing debate over the reform of French orthography is reviewed. Historical sources of complexity in the French language, current trends in linguistics, and possible directions for the reform effort are examined. (MSE)

Critically examines existing government and constitutional provisions that amount to a national language policy in Nigeria. An alternative policy in which the three indigenous Nigerian languages in the present policy are replaced with a neutral one is proposed. (21 references) (GLR)

Focuses on the historical and sociolinguistic studies that illuminate corpus planning processes. These processes are broken down and discussed under two categories: those related to the establishment of norms, referred to as codification, and those related to the extension of the linguistic functions of language, referred to as elaboration. (60…

A social science approach to language planning is contrasted with a language management approach to language planning. It is suggested that students of language planning need to go beyond discourse management and the social sciences if the task is to explain that language is the fundamental institution of society because to plan language is to…

Examines the likelihood of the dominant position of English coming under serious challenge as a world language. Discusses factors such as writing systems, standardization, and modernization.(Author/VWL)

Swedish research and opinion on bilingualism, language policy, and bilingual education in Sweden is reviewed. The Swedish debate on language planning and bilingual education revolves around two perspectives: structural-functional theory and conflict theory. Swedish research consists primarily of statistical and descriptive studies rather than…

A discussion of research on the cognitive, personal, and social correlates of bilingualism focuses on those consequences for individuals who are "caused" to become bilingual by their participation in innovative language education programs such as immersion, bilingual immersion, interlocking, or two-way bilingual programs. The purpose of this paper…

Argues that attempts to revive Chamorro, the indigenous language of Guam, need to be based on an examination of the English language aspirations and behavior of the Chamorro people and on the ideology of English as it has developed in the past several decades in Guam. (Author/CB)

Examines the move toward federal constitutional rights for minority language populations and the trade-off considerations of implementing such a move. It is argued that minority language populations benefit from maintenance of decentralized language policies and that state bureaucratic agencies are more protective of language minority rights than…

Discussion of language planning focuses on a study that addressed the effects of the introduction of Portuguese as the official language by the newly independent government of Mozambique on a target audience that spoke eight various other languages. Relationships between national language policies and popular language usage are discussed. (37…