Language policy and planning (LPP) as a discipline was initially developed as a part of sociolinguistics and language-in-society studies and emerged as a field of study in the 1960s (Kaplan, Baldauf, Liddicoat, Bryant, Barbaux, and Pütz 2000). After WWII, LPP as a result of decolonisation, moved from being primarily an integral part of nation building to a subject of academic enquiry. Recently, the academic field of LP has witnessed a critical turn, with a stronger focus on power relations and bringing in more critical and decolonial approaches. This course aims to develop an in-depth understanding of the complexity of language policies around the world via selected case studies and present case studies of the language planning and policy issues in various domains and institutions, e.g. constitutional laws, and public and private spheres, in a range of countries.

Key concepts in the field of language planning and policy will be introduced and discussed, with an emphasis on how language planning and policy decisions shape and are shaped by international, national, and local level sociolinguistic factors.

The course will also cover various frameworks and theories that have been developed to understand why certain language policies are formulated in a particular context, how they are implemented, and what their consequences and outcomes are for individuals and societies. Students may for example focus on the impact of language policies in multilingual contexts; consider the impact of a lack of policy; analyse the evolution of policies; study the actual implementation and monitoring of existing policies; consider unintended impact of policies.

Learning outcome

Students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of one or more specialised approaches to research on multilingualism
  • Explain the central theories and concepts of these specialised approaches
  • Critically consider the relevance of these approaches to an area of research that students may explore in their thesis

Admission to the course

Students must be enrolled in a master's programme at one of the Circle U. universities.

Students enrolled in a four year bachelor's programme can attend the course in their final year of studies.

Contact your home institution regarding questions about getting the course approved as part of your degree. 

The course assumes a good proficiency in written and oral English.

Teaching

Online sessions

  • 23 February, 14:15-16:00: Introduction – mini lectures & presentation of obligatory assignments
  • 2 March, 14:15-16:00: Family Language Policy – Pia Lane
  • 9 March, 14:15-15:00: Study session with learning assistant
  • 30 March, 14:15-16:00: Technologies/corpora/AI in language education – Fanny Meunier
    Obligatory assignments – discussion groups
  • 20 April, 14:15-16:00: Discussion of selected article and Q&A with author.
    Q&A with course leader and study advisor.
  • 4 May, 14:15-16.00: Exam preparations

Week in Oslo, 5–9 April (preliminary programme)

Monday 5 April

  • 09:30–10:30 Introduction 
  • 10:30–12:00 The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages - Ljudmila Popović (Q&A with Ljudmila Popović and Pia)
  • 12:00–13:00 Lunch break
  • 13:00–14:00 Awakening to languages - Fanny Meunier & colleagues
  • 14:00–14:15 Break
  • 14:15–15:45 Linguistic Landscapes - Elizabeth Lanza TBC
  • 15:45–17:00 Group work: Linguistic Landscapes (LL) of Oslo. Presentations on Friday

Tuesday 6 April

  • 09:15–11:00 Decolonial perspectives - Ana de Medeiros & Pia 
  • 11:00–11:15  Break
  • 11:15–12:15 Lecture by Jane Juuso “Taking my language back” TBC
  • 12:15–13:30 Lunch break 
  • 13:30–15:30 Visit to the Nobel Peace Centre
  • 15:30–18:00 Group work - mapping LL in different areas
  • 18:30 Joint dinner

Wednesday 7 April

  • 09:30–11:00 Q&A session group work & poster presentations. Individual posters – feedback sessions
  • 11:00–12:30 Language compass - Fanny Meunier & colleagues
  • 12:30–13:30  Lunch break
  • 13:30–15:00 Language policy in Ukraine - then and now – Ljudmila Popović
  • 15:00–15:30 Break
  • 15.30–17:30 Group work – mapping LL in different areas

Thursday 8 April

  • 09:00–10:00 Finalising individual posters
  • 10:30–11:30 Minority language standardisation - Pia
  • 11:30–13:00 Lunch break + uploading posters
  • 13:00–15:00 Group work – mapping LL in different areas & preparing LL presentations
  • 15:00–16:30 Coffee break & poster presentations 
  • 16:30–18:30 Documentary movie screening “The Secret Language” and meeting with director and producer Finn McAlinden. Conversation - Finn McAlinden, M Seppola-Simonsen and Pia                            

Friday 9 April

  • 09:00–12:00 Group presentations on Linguistic Landscapes & comparison of findings
  • 12:00–13:00 Final reflections & closing

Students should participate actively in all sessions. Students must attend a minimum of 75% of sessions in order to receive credit for the course.

The course will be run as a combination of short lectures, groups activities and student led activities.

Each student must complete a compulsory assignment given by the teacher during the course of the seminar. The assignment may consist of several parts and must be approved by the teacher before the student can take the final exam.

Lecturers

  • Ana de Medeiros, King's College London
  • Pia Lane, University of Oslo
  • Fanny Meunier, UCLouvain
  • Ljudmila Popović, University of Belgrade 

Examination

Portfolio submission; details of the assignment will be provided in class.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you may submit your response in English, French or a Scandinavian language

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale.

Funding

The course is organized as a blended intensive program (BIP) within Erasmus+, and hence you may apply for a grant at your home university.

Please contact the mobility office at your university for more information:

Ready to apply?

Complete the online form below to apply.
Apply by 17 December

The alliance of 9 European Universities