Abstract：National language capacity is an integral component and important manifestation of a country’s comprehensive national power. To evaluate the national language capacity of a country, this study proposes a three-level evaluation index system, developed with reference to objective data and a multi-index comprehensive evaluation approach. The evaluation system consists of 5 first-level abilities, 12 second-level abilities, and 26 third-level specifications, whereby the first-level indexes, including management ability, control ability, creation ability, development ability, and expansion ability, perform paramount roles. Using these indicators, the language capacities in various countries can be quantified and compared. With further data analysis and verification concerning the system, this study reveals that the language capacity of a country is closely related to its economic strength. The values of national language capacity in the individual countries over the world form a pyramid structure, with the United States, China, and the United Kingdom occupying the top. Among the five first-level indexes, the control ability, creation ability and expansion ability have greater impacts on the overall national language capacity of a country. When it comes to the national language capacity of China, this paper proposes that efforts need to be made in aspects such as language research, language education, language industry, and academic discourse in order to enhance its overall national language capacity.
张天伟. 国家语言能力指数体系完善与研究实践[J]. 语言战略研究, 2021, 6(5): 12-24.
Zhang Tianwei. National Language Capacity Evaluation Indexes and Their Applications. , 2021, 6(5): 12-24.
