Language Policy and Planning - Australia

Running head: Language Policy and Planning
Language Policy and Planning
-Australia
Name of the Student
Name of the University
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1Language Policy and Planning
Introduction Understanding the Topic:
Language is one of the most significant forms of communication among humans,
which manifests itself in various forms such as written, oral and non verbal forms. It is one of
the most sophisticated and integral part of communication among humans (Scott-Phillips,
2014). However, languages also served many other purposes which are important to the
individual and social lives of people. Almost all endeavors of humans have its root in
language, which allowed people to create meaning and to explain and transmit that
knowledge and experience to others. Language also plays a central role in the intellectual
development and the process of socialization in children (Henell et al., 2016). It can help in
personal development, cultural and personal enrichment and recreation. It can also become a
part of the identity of a person. Study of human cultures has shown the central role language
plays. It helps in the interpretation of experiences and reality, and therefore becomes a part of
the culture itself, which explained the different experiences of different cultural group,
through variations in their used languages (Shennan, 2015). The language, thus also serves as
a form of cultural identity. Language also differentiates humans from most other living
beings on earth, and it shows both the diversity as well as similarities between human groups.
Language has been a product of the interactions of cultural, artistic, intellectual and economic
endeavors of humans (Tsui & Tollefson, 2017).
LPP Concepts
In the modern world, the rapid growth of technology has significantly affected the
social relations as well as cultural interactions in humans as well as the frameworks of
imparting knowledge and social participation of humans. With an increasing importance and
dependence on language, proficiency in the use of language is a significant factor in social
and economic context (McCarty, 2015). Therefore, it is the responsibilities of democratic

2Language Policy and Planning
societies to ensure that their citizens are able to access and attain the best levels skill
development in linguistic abilities, which can help to protect and promote rights of people
and also increase the opportunities of individuals and groups. Language thus impinges
various aspects of private and public lives of individuals and societies, and it becomes bound\
d to the individual, ethnic, racial and national identities of people. Over time, such identities
shifts, and due to it, the language itself can experience changes, in the form of modification
through usage (Wright, 2016).
The work of developing explicit language policies is therefore a complicated task, and
at the same time, one of the most vital work in linguistic studies.
Implications of LPP
The language planning and policy is regarded as a sub-domain of the applied
linguistics that aims to contribute in the respective language teaching process. As per
mentioned by Luke (2018), the education is one of the basic fields that can have significant
contribution in the field of applied linguistics. The respective policies of the language
planning can have significant contribution by making proper usages of the language resources
in the policy related to the one that are directly related to the language education.
Lam (2015), has mentioned about the case of United States, where a significant
portion of the child enter the public with little or no idea about the dominant language of the
nation. They are subject to higher levels of discrimination in the public education sector. The
UNESCO has implemented a resolution to deal with the same, which contributes to the
educational right of every student to use their official mother language. This is also included
as a part of the basic human right of the children. On the other hand Luke (2018) has argued
with the fact that restricting the child to learn their mother tongue as part of the language
policy can limit their career growth in dominant and official language of a nation.

3Language Policy and Planning
The decisions related to the language planning and policies are mostly implemented in
collaboration with the linguistics scholars and the community leaders. These decisions can
have major impact on the language learning capability. The policy of language and learning
is implemented according to the literacy program of the United Nations Development
Program. The aim of the policies does not have direct benefit on the growing economy of a
nation as it mainly focuses on the individual needs. According to Liddicoat (2004), the
definition of LPP can be implicated to gain advanced form information that are related to the
access the process the technological elements. There are also the policies related to the
language planning theories that can be implicated as a part of the print based
conceptualization theory.
In order to better understand the implications of language planning theories, it is
important to consider the context associated with the literacy provision of the nation. The
idea of print based conceptualization model can be used for the same to understand the future
of LPP. This will ensure better levels of understanding of the nation.
Position and Argument:
Formulation of Language Policy in the context of Australia:
The measures tasked by the Public Authorities of Australia to address the issues of
language constitute the language policies of Australia. Unique responses were made to the
address the requirements and demands of particular social groups through the history of the
development of public policies in Australia, however such policies were not guided by an
overall framework of policies. This was made even more significant due the continuation of
old practices in many areas. Thus the neglect of Australia’s language source soon became an
issue of national importance (Serrao-Neumann et al., 2015).