On the history, theory and models of language planning Cover Image

O historii, teorii a modelech jazykového plánování
On the history, theory and models of language planning

Author(s): Jiří Nekvapil
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: AV ČR - Akademie věd České republiky - Ústav pro jazyk český
Keywords: language planning; European national movements; Prague School; “Reversing Language Shift” model; Language Management Theory; Einar Haugen; Joshua Fishman; J. V. Neustupný

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this contribution is to present the development of language planning from the perspective of the central current of western sociolinguistics, i.e. sociolinguistics from the Anglo-American world, in which the concept of language planning was born (as surprising as this statement may be for researchers from post-communist countries). Following Neustupný (2006), I distinguish between four historical types of language planning: “pre-modern”, “early modern”, “modern” and “post-modern”. More or less developed theories of language planning are also characteristic for these types. Language planning as an academic discipline has existed for about fifty years and at least two periods can be distinguished within it: “classic language planning” of the 1960s and 1970s, oriented above all toward the modernization of so-called third world countries, and the newer “ecology paradigm”, emerging from the critique of the previous period and supporting the plurality and diversity of languages in the spirit of postmodernism. I devote particular attention to the “Reversing Language Shift” model (Fishman, 1991), the “Catherine Wheel” model (Strubell, 1999) and Language Management Theory (Jernudd – Neustupný, 1987). The last of these theories places language planning in a broader communicative and sociocultural context than the previous theories of language planning, and it can be expected that, due to its constructive features, its significance will grow.

  • Issue Year: 71/2010
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 53-73
  • Page Count: 21
  • Language: Czech