Joseph Lo Bianco
The importance of language policies and multilingualism for cultural diversity
University of Melbourne
article addresses contribution multilingualism cultural diversity importance explicit comprehensive public language planning secure stronger future endangered indigenous immigrant languages critically important develop language policies ensure access minority populations prestigious forms national standard languages literacies supporting intergenerational retention minority languages indigenous immigrant languages twin objectives complementary require expert practice language planning multilingualism advocated aims nationally cohesive economically productive socially enhanced practice intervention behalf multilingualism discussed sections devoted mechanisms activity language policymaking contemporary globalisation challenge language diversity ways makes intergenerational retention diverse languages feasible conditions strict assimilation practiced linguistically defined nationstates also potentially supportive multilingualism voicebased communication technologies overcome tyranny distance dispersal promise access information communication solidarity preliterate groups limited literacy roles language memory cultural production underscore central language various genres culture result efforts appreciate foster human differences require awareness importance multilingualism endangered state many worlds languages almost universal phenomenon multiculturalism make practice language planning central instrument states international agencies nongovernmental bodies