Scribd
Upload
996 views15 pages

Language Policies

The document discusses language programs and policies across ASEAN countries from being monolingual to multilingual. It notes that ASEAN countries have linguistic diversity with multiple languages spoken within borders. While some countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines have designated official languages, they still recognize regional languages. Countries take different approaches with policies that balance promotion of national languages and preservation of other tongues. The document provides examples of language policies in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar that recognize their multilingual populations and contexts.

Uploaded by

savares00
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
996 views15 pages

Language Policies

The document discusses language programs and policies across ASEAN countries from being monolingual to multilingual. It notes that ASEAN countries have linguistic diversity with multiple languages spoken within borders. While some countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines have designated official languages, they still recognize regional languages. Countries take different approaches with policies that balance promotion of national languages and preservation of other tongues. The document provides examples of language policies in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar that recognize their multilingual populations and contexts.

Uploaded by

savares00
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

From Monolingual to Multilingual:

Language Programs and Policies Across


ASEAN countries
The ASEAN (Association of Southeast
Asian Nations) region is characterized
by linguistic diversity, with member
countries having multiple languages
spoken within their borders. The
journey from monolingual to
multilingual in terms of language
programs and policies across ASEAN
Language countries involves addressing this
diversity while fostering regional
Programs and collaboration.
Policies Across
Asean Countries
ASEAN countries such as
Malaysia, Indonesia, the
Philippines, and Singapore,
among others, have diverse
linguistic landscapes with
multiple languages spoken by
Linguistic Diversity various ethnic groups. Policies
need to recognize and celebrate
this diversity.
Many ASEAN countries have established national language
policies that designate one or more official languages.
Balancing the promotion of a national language with the
preservation of regional languages is often a key challenge.

For example;
• Malaysia have (Bahasa Malaysia) as their own official
National language, but they also recognize English as an associate
official language.

Language • Singapore has four official languages – English, Malay,

Policies Mandarin, and Tamil. English is the main language of


administration, while the other three languages represent
the major ethnic groups in the country.

• Indonesia’s official language is Bahasa Indonesia.


However, Indonesia recognizes regional languages, and
the country is home to a rich linguistic diversity with
hundreds of languages spoken across its archipelago.
While these countries have more than one official language, the level of
recognition and usage may vary. Additionally, there are efforts in some
countries to promote linguistic diversity and the preservation of
indigenous languages alongside the official languages.
Language Variation on different
ASEAN Countries

Language programs and policies across ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian


Nations) countries vary based on historical, cultural, and socio-political
contexts. Here's a brief overview of language programs and policies in some
ASEAN member countries:
• Language Policy: Singapore has
a bilingual education policy, with
English as the medium of
instruction and either Mandarin,
Singapore Malay, or Tamil as a second
language. This reflects the
country's multiracial and
multilingual population.
• Mother Tongue Languages:
Students are required to study
their "Mother Tongue" language
(based on their ethnic
background) up to a certain level.
Malaysia
• Language Policy: Malaysia practices
a multilingual education system with
Malay (Bahasa Malaysia) as the
medium of instruction. English is
taught as a second language.
• National Language Emphasis:
Malaysia emphasizes the importance
of Bahasa Malaysia as a unifying
language, while recognizing the
diversity of languages spoken by
different ethnic groups.
Indonesia
• Language Policy: Indonesia promotes
the use of Bahasa Indonesia as a
national language to unite its diverse
population. However, there is
recognition of regional languages, and
efforts are made to incorporate them in
education.
• Local Languages: Local languages
are often used in informal and
community settings, and there is an
ongoing effort to preserve and promote
linguistic diversity.
Thailand
• Language Policy: Thai is the
official language of Thailand and is
used in education and government.
Thailand has a diverse linguistic
landscape with various regional
languages and dialects spoken.
• Bilingual Education: In certain
regions, bilingual education
programs exist to incorporate local
languages alongside Thai.
Philippines
• Language Policy: The Philippines has
a bilingual policy, using both Filipino
(based on Tagalog) and English as
official languages. Mother Tongue-
Based Multilingual Education (MTB-
MLE) has been introduced to use local
languages in the early years of
schooling.
• Diversity Emphasis: Efforts are made
to recognize and preserve indigenous
languages alongside the promotion of
national languages.
Vietnam
• Language Policy: Vietnamese is the
official language of Vietnam and is
used in education and administration.
English is increasingly emphasized in
education for international
communication.
• Bilingual Programs: Bilingual
education programs, incorporating
ethnic minority languages alongside
Vietnamese, exist in certain regions.
• Language Policy: Myanmar
recognizes several languages due to
its diverse ethnic groups. Burmese
is the official language, and there is
a focus on multilingual education to
address linguistic diversity.
Myanmar • Ethnic Languages: Efforts are
made to support the use and
preservation of ethnic languages in
education.
It's important to note that each
ASEAN country has its own
unique linguistic landscape, and
language policies may evolve over
time. Additionally, the
implementation of these policies
can vary within countries,
particularly in regions with distinct
linguistic communities.
THANK YOU!

You might also like