Dialogues

We publish dialogues between scholars representing distinct approaches and convictions regarding a research topic that is relevant for public debate.


Language Analysis in Schools: Education and Research (LASER)

Dialogues Collection

In March 2019, the British Academy hosted a launch event for Language Analysis in Schools: Education and Research (LASER), at which a number of speakers presented their reflections on the importance of skills in language analysis for a range of subject areas currently taught in schools. This Dialogues collection of Languages, Society and Policy (LSP) contains brief position papers from some of the presenters, which summarise the views expressed at the launch. A striking feature of these contributions is the range of disciplines they cover, from STEM subjects such as mathematics and statistics to core humanities subjects like English and foreign language learning. This focus on cross-disciplinarity is at the heart of LASER’s objective: to raise the profile of language analysis in its own right, to demonstrate its importance in a range of school subjects, and to carry out research projects that inform educational policy and practice.

 

 Richard Hudson and Graeme Trousdale

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UK Language Policy: Future Directions and Challenges

Dialogues Collection

Languages, Society and Policy (LSP) is born out of our conviction that insights from research in languages and linguistics have the potential to yield policies that can improve and transform the lives of individuals and communities and impact positively on society. We consider it our obligation as academics and stakeholders to identify those research insights and to communicate their relevance to policy makers, decision makers, and the wider public. This is the purpose of the LSP policy papers. However, even the most articulate communication of our research is unlikely to go far if it is not accompanied by an appreciation of the current UK wide landscape regarding language policy. Active engagement with current policy questions is necessary not only to identify the areas where our contributions are most needed and likely to have the most positive impact, but crucially, so that academics can become active partners in the shaping of language policy.

The LSP Dialogues aim to bring to focus key areas where language policy is needed and provide a forum for ideas and suggestions on how to move forward language policy across different domains and how research can contribute. We have chosen as our first theme UK Language Policy: Directions and Challenges which brings together five papers discussing language policy across different areas. As a collection, the papers highlight a paradox: language policy, or most often its absence, touches almost every aspect of the public sphere, from immigration and social cohesion to defence and security, international relations, cultural diplomacy as well as business and is, therefore, relevant across governments rather than the responsibility of a sole department, as argued by Wendy Ayres-Bennett. Yet, there is no co-ordinated approach across governments, a situation leading to a lack of coherence, inconsistencies in policies and missed opportunities, as Baroness Coussins demonstrates. Such lack of co-ordination makes it hard to address the language skills needed by business, as detailed by Bernardette Holmes, let alone nurture the linguistic talent and potential of immigrant children in education, as Diana Sutton outlines. Looking beyond the UK, the lack of a co-ordinated approach to language policy limits benefits from insights on linguistic and intercultural communication for international relations and crises, as suggested by Charles Forsdick. It is not difficult to see that all these aspects are interconnected: nurturing multilingualism in education will help address the needs of business and public sector services, and strengthen understanding and cohesion within communities in Britain. But no individual language policy for a particular domain will succeed if it is not part of a co-ordinated approach to language policy across all the domains, from education, to business, to health, to security and diplomacy. Each paper identifies priorities and offers suggestions that we hope will provide the first steps towards shaping a much-needed UK language policy and stimulating a wider dialogue.

 

Dora Alexopoulou
Wendy Ayres-Bennett
Diana Sutton

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