The Evolution Of Language Education Policy In The USA

Language is not only an important tool of social communication and the basic means to maintain cultural features,but also the national core competitiveness,cultural and strategic resources.The development of language relies on education.And the transmissibility of language determines that the language policy in the nature is language education policy.The development of any language dominance is dependent on the guidance of the language policy and programmatic document.The language education policy in a country is closely related to the important measures to serve national security,economic development and social stability.As one of the important ways to maintain and realize the core national interests,the formulation and implementation of language education policy,therefore,has become a part of the development strategy of all countries in the world today.As a new field,increasing attentions have been cast from scholars,institutes and governments in recent years.In the context of globalization,due to cultural diversity and political multi-polarization,great changes have taken place in language education policy from country to country.From the international dimension,developed countries,in particular,the United States,pay special attention to its language education and language education policy in order to promote language and cultural soft power.From the domestic dimension,China is a multi-ethnic,multilingual and multicultural country.Under the background of globalization,the timely study of language education policy in today's society is becoming more and more important.Undoubtedly it is of great significance to improve the language education policy and put forward scientific plans to language education.This dissertation examines the evolution of American language education policies and their implementation from the colonial period to the present with a detailed analysis on the vertical dimension of language education policy in the United States for 300 years as a timeline.American language education policy,its internal features and trends are explored in historical,social,economic,political and cultural context.A comprehensive analysis of language education policy framework is put forward on the basis of detailed descriptions and explorations from the perspective of multiculturalism.It mainly elaborates the language education and language education policy of various historical stages in 300 years at macro level,to clarify the development of language education policy and the deep reasons of the changes and the internal logic.The dissertation makes use of horizontal research on language education policy to carry out a vertical inspection to its developing history,and then reveals its intrinsic developing logic,characteristic,trend and problems,in attempt to clearly describe the appearance of language education policy in the United States.On the basis of the analysis,interpretation and evaluation,and the dissertation points out it is instructive to language education policy in China carrying out a longitudinal inspectionAt the beginning a brief review of language education policy and planning research background is made,the definition and scope of language policy and language education policy are provided in this chapter.In addition,concepts of key words,research methods,purposes and the structure of the research are explained.The first chapter explores the first stage of language policy in the USA colonial period,with an analysis from the English status and the reasons of its transplantation in the United States.But it is impossible for American English to devour all languages at that time.Through the baptism of the transplantation and localization of American English,along with the collision and fusion of Native American languages and other European immigrants,coexistence of languages rather than a single language in colonial period occurred.But the standardization of language in the United States has emerged.American language policy in colonial period,in essence,is the embodiment of chauvinism ideology in language and culture,which has a significant and far-reaching influence on future language policy in the USA.The second chapter points out the essence of assimilation in the founding period by combing the process of unified language policy,the social condition,the language dominance,the formation of American language,the assimilation of other non-English languages,etc.After America's founding,with government and folks two forces,English dominance leadership completely established in the end.American language consistency not only becomes an ideal and pursuit,the standard of language attitude and language policy after the founding of the American,but also the core of the American language and culture.The language policies after the founding of the USA are to consolidate English ruling status,ensure the language consistency.Language policies,whether it is dominant or recessive policy,fully embody this point.The third chapter discusses 19th century American Indians mandatory English-only education policy.The basic characteristics of 19th century American language and culture is still self-praised and exclusive degeneration of other languages,the purpose is to maintain the consistency of language.In order to effectively maintain the language consistency,the U.S.government continued implementing the assimilation policy,embodies in English-only education policy for the purpose of English education in an all-round way.The federal government gradually marginalized the Indian by compulsory policy,so as to maintain the Anglo-Saxon culture.The fourth chapter examines the 20th century language education policy in the United States,in particular,bilingual education and English-only education policy.The 20th century was the golden age of recovery and development of American bilingual education,a variety of political factors and social background provided favorable conditions for the great rapid development of the bilingual education.American bilingual education embarked on a track of legalization,institutionalization and standardization since the United States promulgated Bilingual Educatiol Act in 1968.However,the changing international and domestic political and economic situation forced the federal government to make revisions on the Bilingual Education Act.It presents a detailed policy interpretation on the evolution of American bilingual language education policy by analyzing the different stages of the bilingual education policy,from the background,contents,characteristics and influence.The fifth chapter discusses language education policy in the United States from the American language legislative tendency,the anti-bilingual education legislation,911 terrorist attack,21st century English official English legislation and foreign language education policy.The 21st century language education policy in the United States reflected in English official movement,which is a campaign to establish American English official status,against and exclusive of other languages.It had a very negative impact on the language education and the implementation of bilingual education policy.To strengthen legislation of foreign language is not a departure from the general development trend of American language and culture.Chapter six is the conclusion.On the basis of the previous research,it sums up the overall characteristics of the language education policy in the USA,from the factors such as social development,language development and education development.Although the surface features of language education policy,the explicit and implicit language education policy form,the combination of federal and state governments,are variable in different historical periods,American language education policy is a historical,complete and systemic evolution from the historical longitudinal perspective.Finally it points out the reference of American language education policy for Chinese language education policy and puts forward the significance of harmonious language education policy and measures in China under the background of globalization.