Language Policy, Culture, and Identity in Asian Contexts

James W. Tollefson, Amy B.M. Tsui

• Contents: Preface. A.B.M. Tsui, J.W. Tollefson, Language Policy and the Construction of National Cultural Identity. Part I:Globalization and Its Impact on Language Policy, Culture, and Identity. K. Hashimoto, Japan’s Language Policy and the “Lost Decade”. Y. Sungwon, Globalization and Language Policy in South Korea. M.K. David, S. Govindasamy, The Construction of National Identity and Globalization in Multilingual Malaysia. P.G-L. Chew, Remaking Singapore: Language, Culture, and Identity in a Globalized World. T. Clayton, Transition, Culture, and Language in Cambodia. Part II:Language Policy and the (Re)Construction of National Cultural Identity. A.B.M. Tsui, Language Policy and the Social Construction of Identity: The Case of Hong Kong. M. Saxena, Multilingual and Multicultural Identities in Brunei Darussalam. R.A. Benton,Mauri or Mirage? The Status of the Mäori Language in Aotearoa New Zealand in the Third Millennium. Part III:Language Policy and Language Politics: The Role of English. R.K. Agnihotri, Identity and Multilinguality: The Case of India. S.K. Sonntag, Change and Permanence in Language Politics in Nepal. T. Rahman, The Role of English in Pakistan With Special Reference to Tolerance and Militancy. T. Hossain, J.W. Tollefson, Language Policy in Education in Bangladesh. J.W. Tollefson, A.B.M. Tsui, Issues in Language Policy, Culture, and Identity.

"The book is certainly a must-read for anyone who is interested in issues in language policies and practices in Asian countries. It is a great sourcebook that may be used in graduate and undergraduate courses on language policy, language in society and language education.... The detail of discussion makes this book an extremely useful reference for those involved in language policy issues." -- Yasemin Kirkgoz, Linguist List, 5/14/2007The issues raised in Language Policy, Culture, and Identity in Asian Contexts should be of interest to students of (critical) applied linguistics as well as to students of nationalism. By situating national language policies in their complex sociopolitical settings, the book provides compelling analyses of some of the paradoxes engendered in forming national cultural identities via language and through identifying stakeholders, their (conflicting) interests, and the identity construction and negotiation processes at work. Linguists and language planners in education should benefit immensely by reading these case studies of various Asian countries and their recent language planning and management efforts." -- Saud Alazzam-Alwidyan, TESL-EJ, September 2008, Volume 12, Number 2"LPCIx is an important addition to studies on globalization, language policies, and national identities in Asia. It provides a comprehensive and focused investigation of the complex relationships between language policies, cultures, and identities that so far have been infrequently and/or inadequately covered in the existing literature. It also provides issues, agendas, and avenues, as well as theoretical and methodological tools, for further inquiries into these issues." -- Journal of Language, Identity, & Education, January 1, 2009