The Politics of Language in Australia

This 1993 book traces language policy in Australia from World War II to the present.

Uldis Ozolins (Author)

9780521417945, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 May 1993

304 pages, 2 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.62 kg

This 1993 book traces language policy in Australia from World War II to the present, examining the changes in government policy over this time, and changes in major public institutions due to the presence of these languages. The major focus is on changes in the education and broadcasting systems, with attention also to interpreting/translating, industrial relations and the role of languages in diplomacy and trade. Dr Ozolins places language in the context of multicultural politics and shows that government language policies that were once prompted by suspicion now accept and even encourage cultural and linguistic maintenance. In fact Australia has introduced many innovations of international significance in language policy, particularly with the National Language Policy, announced in 1987. This policy marked a decisive change in political assumptions towards languages in post-war Australia as it recognised the importance of languages other than English.

Abbreviations
Preface
1. Australia, languages and the world at the end of World War II
2. Language, ethnicity and politics
3. The coming of the 'New Australians' and their languages
4. From assimilation to integration
5. Disadvantage, language and cultural heritage: from Grassby to Galbally 1973–8
6. Multiculturalism and language policy from the late 1970s
7. A national policy on languages
8. Language policy in contemporary Australia
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Sociolinguistics [CFB], Biography: historical, political & military [BGH]