The best language planning is community-based or comes from the
grassroots. Language planning is essential for good revitalization
programs. Below are Nancy Hornberger’s four approaches and types of
language planning, from Indigenous Literacies in the Americas. Language planning from the bottom up. (Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, 1997, p. 7.)
(1) Uses of the language.
This type of language planning may include long-term goals for language maintenance and revitalization.
Sample long term goal:
“Our language will become the main language of daily communication within the community. Community leaders will provide a model and use the language at the administration office at all times, for meetings and greeting the public. The language will be proclaimed the official language of our community.”
Small goals for almost-extinct languages:
Consider producing language learning programs and materials without the goal of complete fluency or re-establishment of the language as the main language of communication. An alternative for an endangered language is simply to assure its continuation through one or two speakers per generation, who learn the language from the last native speakers through a mentorship program.
(2) Maintenance or re-acquisition.
This type of language planning is about the users of the language, your
elders and fluent speakers. This approach involves planning for the
maintenance and re-acquisition of the language by members of your
community.
Consider these questions:
- How will the language be taught, and to whom?
- Should it be a school-based language program? What will the language of instruction be?
- Should it be a program to teach adults and families about methods for teaching the language?
- Should
you incorporate language acquisition in the workplace? (Employees that
do not know the language could learn it, and employees who do know the
language could share their knowledge. Fifteen minutes of every workday
could be devoted to gathering for a language lesson.)
(3) The language itself.
This type of language planning may include the modernization of the language and the creation of new vocabulary or the development of new genres to fit modern communication needs.
- Poetry
- Traditional or historical songs
- Legends and stories
- History of the land
- New vocabulary to fit the needs of the classroom in language immersion schools
This approach may also include the development of a Language
Authority committee to approve new vocabulary and plan further language
initiatives.
(4) Writing systems.
This type of language planning may include the design or reform of your language’s writing system, and gaining official approval of a particular writing system.
