A Study On The Us Foreign Language Planning Based On Securitization Theory

With the deepening of economic globalization,political multi-polarization,cultural pluralism and social informationization,foreign language is not only an important tool and bridge for international exchange and cooperation,but also becomes a significant factor influencing national security and serves as a special strategic resource.In order to enhance national security-oriented foreign language capability,corresponding foreign language planning becomes a practical issue and urgent demand for all nations.Under the guidance of language policy & language planning(LPLP)theory and relevant foreign language planning theory,this thesis aims to explore the main research object—the US foreign language planning from the view of national security based on the analysis frameworks and methods of securitization theory of Copenhagen School.And the thesis mainly discusses the following three questions:(1)why should foreign language planning be carried out from the perspective of national security?(2)what is the foreign language planning securitization?(3)how does the US foreign language planning realize its securitization?As a theory of constructivism,“securitization theory” mainly contains two analysis frameworks: firstly,the analysis framework of factors,including securitizing actor,referent object,audience and facilitating conditions;secondly,the analysis framework of process,including securitizing actor,referent object,existential threat,recognition of threat,securitization result and confirmation of securitization.These two frameworks share some elements on the one hand but differ in focuses on the other hand.Based on the above frameworks,this thesis collects and organizes documents relating to the US foreign language planning since World War II and applies two main research methods for the materials: documentation and discourse analysis,which mainly focus on securitization factors and securitization process.Depending on the study,this thesis comes to the following conclusions:(1)the intrusion of foreign language and the deficiency of foreign language can threaten national security,and this demands foreign language planning be carried out from the perspective of national security;(2)foreign language planning can solve the national security threats brought by the intrusion or deficiency of foreign language in two forms: threat prevention and threat management(3)the US foreign language planning is national security-oriented,which is realized by the joint promotion of multiple securitizing actors.And related foreign language acts and policies also further recognize and confirm the pertinence,feasibility and scientificity of the US foreign language planning.