Bangsa Malaysia and recent Malaysian english language policies
Article
Article Title | Bangsa Malaysia and recent Malaysian english language policies |
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ERA Journal ID | 22151 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | |
Author | Ridge, Brian |
Journal Title | Current Issues in Language Planning |
Journal Citation | 5 (4), pp. 407-423 |
Number of Pages | 17 |
Year | 2004 |
Place of Publication | Clevedon, U.K. |
ISSN | 1466-4208 |
1747-7506 | |
Abstract | This paper analyses Malyasia's English language policies, especially since the mid 1990s, in the light of more recent claims for a United Malaysian nation (under the banner of Bangsa Malaysia) and in the context of English language and its potential for Malaysia to forge more of an externalised identity. It examines the impact of postindependence measures to boost the status of Malay by switching the language medium in schools to Malay (Bahasa Malasia). This had an immediate effect on English medium schools, but the same measure was not carried through to Chinese or Tamil schools. For the latter, students nonetheless had to demonstrate competence in Bahasa Malaysia and so there evolved an effective bilingualism for non-Malays - a bilingualism that was not generally available for the bulk of Malay students. By the 1990s, Malaysia sought to reintroduce English language competence via its schools and tertiary eduction. This measure is part of an overall effort to engage with the globalising world. |
Keywords | english language; Malaysia; globalisation |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 440709. Public policy |
470210. Globalisation and culture | |
470306. English as a second language | |
Public Notes | File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author. |
Byline Affiliations | Faculty of Arts |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/9xqwv/bangsa-malaysia-and-recent-malaysian-english-language-policies
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