Bangsa Malaysia and recent Malaysian english language policies

Ridge, Brian (2004) Bangsa Malaysia and recent Malaysian english language policies. Current Issues in Language Planning, 5 (4). pp. 407-423. ISSN 1466-4208

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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.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Deposited in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.
Depositing User:	epEditor USQ
Faculty / Department / School:	Historic - Faculty of Arts - Department of Humanities and International Studies
Date Deposited:	11 Oct 2007 00:29
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2013 22:34
Uncontrolled Keywords:	english language; Malaysia; globalisation
Fields of Research :	16 Studies in Human Society > 1605 Policy and Administration > 160510 Public Policy 20 Language, Communication and Culture > 2002 Cultural Studies > 200206 Globalisation and Culture 20 Language, Communication and Culture > 2003 Language Studies > 200303 English as a Second Language
Socio-Economic Objective:	E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970120 Expanding Knowledge in Language, Communication and Culture
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/836

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