A Study On Australian Language Policy Since The End Of The1980s From The Perspective Of Language Planning Goals

Language planning is an important component of sociolinguistics and originated in the1950s. Although with short research history, it is a discipline with high social application value to solve language problems in the society. With globalization, more and more factors influence language planning, which come from political, economic, cultural and social aspects. And successful language planning in one country will promote the country’s comprehensive development. The theory of language planning goals is an essential part of language planning theory. It also has a great impact on language policy making. In addition, explicit language planning goals determine the effective implementation of language planning. Kaplan and Baldauf Jr. came up with a framework for language planning goals in2003. It is by far the most comprehensive summary of language planning goals, based on the classification of language planning.Australia is generally recognized as one of the most successful countries in the world for its successful language policy, especially its language policy from the1970s to the1990s. National Policy on Languages is the first explicit official language policy in Australia. This policy has greatly influenced Australian’s identity. Later, Australia’ Language:The Australian Language and Literacy Policy was promulgated in1991, to improve Australian language and literacy ability. National Literacy Plan is another important language policy in Australia, promulgated in1997, which aims at strengthening the literacy ability of all Australian school children. It is a typical language policy of language-in-education planning.Based on the Kaplan and Baldauf Jr.’s framework for language planning goals, this thesis will analyze Australian language policy since the end of the1980s from the perspective of language planning goals. The research subjects are three official documents of language policy, National Policy on Languages, Australia’Language:The Australian Language and Literacy Policy, and National Literacy Plan. By analysis, it is found that with the influence of social reality at that time, each document focuses on different language planning goals. However, these three documents are continuous. National Policy on Languages mainly focuses on language status planning. It not only confirms the status of Australian English, but also protects the status of Aboriginal languages and community languages. Australia’Language:The Australian Language and Literacy Policy also emphasizes the status of Australian English, but pays more attention to strengthen English literacy ability and Asian languages learning. This document mainly focuses on language-in-education planning goals. National Literacy Plan reflects the overt language-in-education planning goals. It is found that overt language planning goal is an important factor for the success of Australian language planning. The significance of this study is to highlight the importance of language planning goals for language planning. This thesis will propose implications for China’s future language policy making. In status planning, the status of Chinese language needs to be valued. A complete system for Chinese language education from kindergarten to college and adult’s Chinese language further education may be focused. In addition, the status of foreign languages also needs to be focused, as it is good for the development of translation planning and foreign language education in China. Translation planning is very necessary, as translation mechanism in current China is not impeccable. As for foreign language education, two things need to be strengthened. Firstly, types of foreign languages need to be expanded. Secondly, some foreign languages need to be developed firstly, which is good for China’s development. With the collaboration of Chinese language and foreign languages education, language planning in China will be better developed.