Language policy is a sensitive issue in most countries. In countries                  where more than one language is spoken -- the vast majority -- language policies                  affect the ability of individuals and groups to participate in government, to be                  treated fairly by governmental agencies, to have access to government services, to                  take advantage of educational opportunities, and to pursue economic success.Language                  policies also affect the prospects for survival of ethnic groups that define                  themselves on the basis of language. Assimilationist policies can threaten the                  existence of minority groups as distinct entities. Accommodationist policies might                  allow many ethnic groups to flourish but weaken national unity. In many countries,                  disputes over language policies have led to ethnic tensions and, in some cases, to                  violent ethnic conflicts.This book analyzes the impact of different kinds of                  language policies on ethnic relations in fifteen multiethnic countries in Asia and                  the Pacific. The analyses include discussion of the origins of different language                  policies and of how the policies have evolved over time. The book develops policy                  recommendations, both for individual countries and in more general terms.

Fighting Words: Language Policy and Ethnic Relations in Asia (BCSIA Studies in International Security) PDF

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