The teaching of national languages in Zaire is examined, underscoring the lack of an adequate infrastructure for defining a global policy. It is suggested that such policymaking must involve the collaboration of decision makers, scholars, teachers, scientific organizations, publishers, and translators and must consider economics and existing…

Argues that two influential studies of multilingualism in India are misleading in that they claim India's situation is unique and cherish this uniqueness as a value. It is proposed instead that this sociolinguistic diversity is inherently conflict-producing and leads to loss of "weak" languages, similar to documented situations in other…

Language-spread policy (LSP) is policy promulgated by groups seeking to spread their languages to speakers or communicative domains. LSP can be internal or external, overt or disguised, and related in different ways to national policy. Intent may be to increase native-language advantage in international communication, disseminate ideology, create…

Reports attitudes toward a 1994 South Africa language policy that declared 11 official languages. The decision had particular significance for the South African national defense force (SANDF). Special focus is on language practices at the Sixth South African Infantry Battalion in Eastern Cape Province. (Author/VWL)

Nigeria's language policies are examined, focusing on conflicting objectives, ideological motivations, and orientations. The conflicts are explained in terms of the sociohistorical development of the nation, its complex ethnolinguistic landscape, conflicting demands of nationalism and nationism, and the attempt to maintain cultural and linguistic…

Chronicles Ethiopia's history of language policy, and describes the first three years of the country's initiative to provide native language instruction to all its people, focusing on the materials development process and program effectiveness. Teachers are working to develop content-area instructional materials in eight of over fifty languages.…

Examines ongoing language reform work in Uzbekistan to see what principles and attitudes Uzbek language policy is based on and what impact it may have on the language situation in the country as a whole. (Author/JL)

Two policy documents supporting education for ethnolinguistic or socioeconomic minorities in Catalonia are examined, identifying underlying assumptions and the views of cultural diversity implicit in them. It is concluded that the policy is formulated vaguely, incorporates contradictory statements, and neglects learners' first languages. Further…

Argues that the language planning role of Japan's public broadcasting organization, NHK, is considerable, although neglected. The article overviews broadcasting, language policy, organization, and history and focuses on NHK's role in establishing and disseminating the standard language. NHK is perceived as an arbiter of language standards. (51…