U.s. Language Policy

As a new field, language planning and policy has arrested increasing attentions in resent years from scholars, governments and institutes. This dissertation begins with a brief explanation of theories on language planning and policy to lay a solid foundation for subsequent examinations on the United State's policies. In the 1960s, linguists helped developing countries and newly independent ones establish their language grammar and writing system, and compile dictionaries for native languages, which made language planning and policy an independent academic field. As some of its basic hypotheses were questioned in the early 1980s, language planning and policy met with a period of stagnation. From 1990s on, new developments in linguistics have stimulated the extension of scope and important points of studies on LPP. As a result, LPP reclaims attentions and became a focus in linguistics in western countries. Regretfully, a new discipline in western world as it is, it didn't appear in China until recently and little has been achieved.Establishing language policy is an important mechanism for a government's national administration and political problems solution. It results from the interaction between some important social elements, such as political conflicts, government shift, immigrants, economic changes, globalization, competition etc. The author attempts to portrait the historical development of language policy from the colonial period to the present with references to and analysis on government work reports, law and acts, especially English literature. On the basis of the macro-descriptions on and comprehensive explorations of historical background, development, internal features and trends of thought, the author analyzes, explains and evaluates English in USA, immigrant languages, native languages, and English promotion overseas.The whole dissertation consists of seven chapters.The first chapter makes a brief review of research background of language planning and policy. The definition and scope of LPP are provided in this chapter. In addition, the existent achievements and significance of the topic in question are explained. Chapter two analyzes the status of English in the United States from colonial period to the present and explains why it came to exist. The author also summarizes the types of language policy in USA.Chapter three discusses the change of policies on indigenous languages from linguistic genocide (or lignified) to linguistic protection. Owing to the sense of superiority over and discrimination against native languages, the United States has implemented assimilation policy of the Natives into the mainstream Native American languages. It was not until the mid 20th century that due to the constant extinction of Indian languages, protective policies were employed to save and develop Native American languages though they are criticized to have come so late.The author discusses the language policy to immigrants in the United States in chapter four. According to different attitudes to immigrants in different ages, its language policies have been changed, which are held to be essentially assimilativeChapter five is devoted to foreign languages policy in USA. Foreign policy was ignored since the United States was established. Facing new international situation, USA began to realize the importance of foreign languages to politics, economics, culture and national security, hence the adjustment on its foreign languages policy.Chapter six discusses America's promotion of English since the middle of 20th century. After WWII, it began to popularize English around the world. Measures and main features of its English promotion policy are analyzed in this chapter.Chapter seven concludes the whole dissertation and proposes for continued studies.After studies on America's language policies, the dissertation contends that English is their foothold and starting point in spite of their constant adjustments. It helps to ensure a monolingual English-speaking society. The present American language policy advocates a subtractive policy of language assimilation for language minorities, while it encourages an additive policy of other language study for mainstream English monolinguals. Although language diversity still exists. This situation will remain in the near future. Official and unofficial policies work together in this process; nevertheless, the latter is more powerful than the former. In other words, linguistic culture of Anglo-Conformity is deeply rooted in America. Some scholars argue that preference of English to other languages in language polices is a kind of colonialism and should be criticized. The dissertation not only disapproves of them but also affirms language policies from new angles. In addition, it introduces some western popular theories on language planning and policy. Hopefully, it will shed new light on the understanding of language planning and policy.