Language Policy

​ Language policy is one mechanism for locating language within social structure so that language determines who has access to political power and economic resources. It refers to explicit or implicit language planning by official bodies, such as ministries of education, workplace managers, or school administrators.

​ The 1994 Toubon law made the use of French mandatory in all TV broadcasts, meaning all foreign-language programs are dubbed, while radio stations must play at least 40 percent of French music for most of the day.

​ The decisions made on language policy influence the right to use and maintain languages, affect language status, and determine which languages are nurtured. Language policy and planning decisions have a major impact on language vitality and, ultimately, on the rights of the individual.

​Overall, we can say the language policies’ goal is to sustain, reinforce, and expand our local languages and to provide the foundation skills for acquisition of English and other international languages. Most importantly, we need to maintain language policies to ensure the access of minority populations to prestigious forms of national standard languages and literacy.