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Planning for Malay language in education: Lessons of history and present ecology
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Type
Book chapter
Citation
Mohamed Aidil Subhan. (2007). Planning for Malay language in education: Lessons of history and present ecology. In Y. Liu, V. Vaish, & S. Gopinathan (Eds.), Language, capital, culture: Critical studies of language and education in Singapore (pp. 157-176). Sense Publishers.
Abstract
It is only possible to elucidate, explain and offer new perspectives on a language planning activity if planners and policy-makers have a reasonable understanding of the main issues and concerns of the language community for whom the language is being planned for as well as an understanding of the concept of language ecology (Kaplan & Baldauf, 1997; Haugen, 1972/2001), its present relationship to language planning and their relationship historically. By language ecology, we simply mean the interaction of a language with its environment. There is a need for academic research that details the concerns, both perceived and real, of the Malay language community against a background of language shift and changing attitude towards the language, and the current language ecology and to contextualise these against the policy and planning initiatives of the state. This paper hopes to document: 1) The history of the policy and planning of the Malay language in education since 1956; 2) The present language ecology of the Malay language in Singapore; and 3) The contemporary issues and concerns of the main stakeholders with regards to the planning of Malay language in education.
Date Issued
2007
Publisher
Sense Publishers