An SFL-based Approach To Language Policy

Language policy has been a research topic for linguists for more than half a century. After a brief stagnation in the1980s, language policy research has once again gained momentum since the1990s, reclaiming itself as a focus for academic investigation. A new discipline in western academia as it is, language policy research in China starts even later.The deficiency of Chinese research on language policy is mainly manifested in the following aspects. First, many Chinese scholars’ language policy research is carried out in a fashion of survey and summary, which lacks theoretical intervention in the field. Second, Chinese scholars often conduct their language policy research from an external perspective, focusing on the examination of social factors involved, which lacks an internal perspective from linguistic theory. Third, language policy researchers in China have scarcely paid attention to the implementation process and problems arisen in this process.Language policy is defined as a science about language choice, which corresponds with the fundamental idea in Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL henceforth) that language is a meaning potential from which choices could be made. Such correspondence in core ideas has laid a foundation for theory application. A theoretical alliance of core ideas in SFL and Spolsky’s tripartite division of language policy can offer us a better access to examine the implementation process of language policy, along with its possible problems. Based on the above reasons, our research approaches the topic from the perspective of semiotics, analyzing three key components of language policy (language practice, language ideology and language management). We set out to answer three questions in the dissertation. One, with proper selection and combination of core ideas in SFL, how can we appropriately constitute a theoretical foundation to approach language policy? Two, what characteristics of language policy can be revealed during this process, which may be instrumental in language intervention? Three, with this new approach, how can we analyze problems which have arisen during the implementation process of some Chinese language policies?We choose to apply rank scale to language policy first, which lays a solid foundation for SFL application. Next, we choose to approach language policy with metafunction, which offers an access to realize functional description. After that, we choose to apply the thoughts of function, system, stratification, context and probability one by one, analyzing language policy from both internal and external perspectives.We then discover that the characteristics of language policy gradually reveal themselves with the deepening of SFL application into the field:language policy is a meaning potential from which distinct choices could be made to exert impact on language use; language policy is a tripartite dynamic process in which the three major components (namely language practice, language ideology and language management) are constantly influencing each other and functioning as a unified whole; language policy is a multi-faceted entity in which every aspect has its own unique composition and structure.Finally we selected two typical cases in Chinese language policy since the founding of People’s Republic of China (P.R.C. henceforth), analyzing problems arisen during the process of implementation from the SFL perspective.The dissertation is divided into three parts.The first part includes Chapter1, Chapter2and Chapter3. Chapter1gives an introduction to some basic information of the dissertation, such as background of the research, significance of the research, purpose of the research etc. Chapter2is the literature review, which includes major ingredients like a brief history of language policy research, definitions of basic terms such as language policy and language planning, and a short account of influential thoughts and ideas concerning language policy in the past fifty years. Chapter3justifies the possibility of approaching language policy from the SFL perspective. The first part can be viewed as a process of locating problems.The second part embraces Chapter4and Chapter5. Chapter4applies rank scale and metafunction to language policy research, providing a foundation and access for functional description. Chapter5further applies the thoughts of function, system, stratification, context and probability to language policy, trying to analyze features of language policy shown in new perspectives and search for practical guidance. This part can be viewed as a theoretical discussion. The third part is composed of Chapter6. Chapter7and Chapter8. With the new approach. Chapter6examines important language policies in early years of P.R.C. The research is mainly directed at problems occurred during the process of implementation of language policies, trying to approach the problem in our perspective and propose relevant suggestions. Chapter7investigates language policies on cyber words, on pure lettered words and on translation of Chinese names after the country adopted Reform and Opening-up policy in1978. In this Chapter, we continue to focus on problems arisen during the implementation process, in hope of locating reasons for the failure of language policy and provide practical guidance and suggestions. Chapter8concludes the whole dissertation and proposes problems for future studies.