This document provides an overview of language planning. It defines language planning as efforts to influence and modify a language's structure and function. It discusses key aspects of language planning including its goals, processes, types (status and corpus planning), ideologies, and issues. The summary focuses on language planning's aim to alter a language's role and how it is implemented through selection, codification, elaboration, and acceptance of a standardized variety.

1. Assignment #2
Submitted to: Sir Waleed
Submitted by: Ayesha Afzal
Mahnoor Shabbir
Huma Saleem
Shafaq Mir
Subject: Sociolinguistics
Topic: Language Planning

2. Language Planning
Definition:
Language planning refers to various ways of influencing a language to rise
its status and to modify its structure and function (Baker and Jones, 1998). It is an
intervention intended to influence a language or language use. Many linguists have
defined language planning. Some of its definitions are as following;
* "Language planning is an government authorized, long term, sustained and conscious effort to
alter a language's function in society for the purpose of solving communication problem"
Weinstein(1980, p.56)
* "The numerous attempts that have been made to change a particular variety of a language or
some aspects of how either of these functions in society. Such changes are usually described as
instance of language planning.” Ronald(1998,p.347)
* "Language planning involves the creation and implementation of an official policy about how
the languages and linguistic varieties of a country are to be used." David Crystal (1996, p.366)
Birth of Language Planning:
* Language planning was first put forward by Uriel Weinrich, in 1997, at a seminar
held in Columbia University, the U.S. In the literature concerned with "language planning", the
American Norwegian sociolinguist Einar Haugen is often mentioned as the person who gave
birth to the concept. In the article "Language Planning In the Modern Norway"(1959), Haugen
introduced and attempted to define the concept. In 1950-60's many countries got independent
and a conflict about national language aroused in all the countries. So in 1960's study of
language planning started in sociolinguistics.
Language Planning Goals:
Some goals and purposes of language planning are as following;
i. Preventing language death
ii. Reversing language shift
iii. To reform and revitalize a language
iv. To modernize and standardize a language
v. To spread and strengthen the language communication

3. vi. To attain national unity and harmony
vii. To attain social, political and economic benefits
Process of Language Planning:
Language planning is carried out by government departments and agencies, bureaucrats and
upper class of the society, involving lexicographers and linguists. The process of language
planning includes four steps which are as following:
1. Selection
2. Codification
3. Elaboration of function/ Modernization
4. Acceptance/ Implementation
Selection:
In this step a particular language or variety of language is selected as a norm for official,
educational, and other purposes. It is selected by considering such factors as formality, social
class, regional dialect, and previous literary use.
Codification:
The chosen language needs to be developed to meet the demands placed upon it as a medium of
national or international communication. In this step the selected language is codified in sense of
pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary to provide a set of norms for standard use.
Elaboration of Function:
In this step the function of the selected language or variety of language is elaborated by using it
in all the functions associated with government (parliament, law courts etc), in literary writings,
in academic writings, and in media.
Acceptance:
People are made ready and they accept the selected language or variety of language as national
language or standard language of the society.
Types of Language Planning:
Following are the types of language planning.
i. Status Planning
ii. Corpus Planning

4. Status Planning:
“Status planning changes the function of a language or a variety of language and the rights of
those who use it” Ronald Wardhaugh(1998, p.347).
According to David Crystal, changes in status planning are proposed in the way a
language/variety is to be used in society. It is concerned with whether the social status of a
language should be lowered or raised. It also reflects the status of the speakers of a language. It
includes the allocation of languages or language varieties to given functions;
* Medium of instruction
* Official language
* Vehicle of mass communication
* Language of international communication , etc.
Corpus Planning:
Corpus planning seeks to develop a variety of language or a language, usually to standardize it,
that is, to provide it with the means for serving every possible language function in society. It
may involve such matters as development of orthography, new sources of vocabulary, dictionary
and literature so that the language may extend its use into such areas as government, education
and trade. According to David Crystal changes in corpus planning are introduced into the
structure of a language/variety-spelling, pronunciation, grammar or vocabulary. It
Includes:
* Reforming spelling
* Adopting a new script
* The creation of new forms
* The modification of old ones, or
* The selection from alternative forms in a spoken or written code.
Results of Language Planning:
As a result of language planning, a language can attain one of the following statuses;
* Official
* Joint official
* Regional official
* Promoted language

5. * Tolerated language
* Discouraged language, etc.
Ideologies of Language Planning:
Language planning always involve some ideologies. Cobarrubias(1983) has described four
typical ideologies that may motivate actual decision making in language planning in a particular
society:
1. Linguistic Assimilation
2. Linguistic Pluralism
3. Vernacularization
4. Internationalism
Linguistic Assimilation:
It is the belief that everyone, regardless of origin, should learn the dominant language of the
society. For example France applied this policy(French only) to various people within its
borders.
Linguistic Pluralism:
It is the recognition of more than one language, also takes a variety of forms. It can be
territorially or individually based or there may be some combination of the two. For example in
countries like Belgium, Canada and Switzerland.
Vernacularization:
It means the restoration or elaboration of an indigenous language and its adoptation as an official
language. For example Hebrew in Israel and Tagalog(or Philipino) in the Phillippines.
Internationalism:
It means the adoption of a non-indigenous language of wider communication either as an official
language or for such purposes, as education or trade. For example English in Singapore, India
and Pakistan.
Key Issues:
There are two basic issues which emerge in language planning.
1. Language Rights
2. Right Kind of Data

6. Language Rights:
It means the right of individuals to use their own language with other members of their linguistic
group. They evolve from general human rights, in particular non-discrimination, freedom of
expression, right to private life, and the right of a linguistic minority to use their language with
other members of their community. They include, among others, the right of one's own language
in legal, administrative, and judicial acts, education and media in a language understood and
freely chosen by those concerned. All this is kept in view while planning a language.
Right Kind of Data:
While planning a language, the right kind of data of selected language-i.e grammar, words,
meanings, vocabulary, etc- should be available.

7. References:
 Class notes
 An introduction to Sociolinguistics by Ronald Wardhaugh
 Sapcham.blogpost.com
 http://www.sjsu.edu
 http://www.oocities.org