The Formation, Evolution and Influence of Language Policies of International Organizations: A Case Study of UNESCO

Fang Xiaobing

Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning ›› 2022, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (2) : 12-21.

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Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning ›› 2022, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (2) : 12-21. DOI: 10.19689/j.cnki.cn10-1361/h.20220201

The Formation, Evolution and Influence of Language Policies of International Organizations: A Case Study of UNESCO

  • Fang Xiaobing
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Abstract

The language planning process of international organizations involves three aspects: policy formation, policy evolution, and policy impact. By investigating the formation mechanism of UNESCO conventions, recommendations, and declarations, it can be found that expert contributions and government promotion play a key role in transforming proposals into international normative instruments. From the language ideology evolution of UNESCO over the past 70 years, it can be seen that language policies of international organizations always actively adapt to the political and economic environment of the world and evolve with the development of the era, and  factors such as international political environment and popular thought trends play an important role in language policy shift in international organizations; UNESCO enhances its international authority by formulating conventions, funding projects, providing technical support, establishing evaluation indicators and publishing international rankings, so as to exert influence on member states. Member states also influence UNESCO’s language policies by refusing to pay dues, expert lobbying, and using institutional processes for specific proposals. At present, research on language policies of international organizations mostly focuses on language choice and text analysis. In the future, we should make a panoramic study of all links of the policy process in combination with the institutional frameworks and procedural norms of international organizations.

Key words

international organizations / language policy / formation mechanism / evolution mechanism / impact mechanism

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Fang Xiaobing. The Formation, Evolution and Influence of Language Policies of International Organizations: A Case Study of UNESCO[J]. Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning. 2022, 7(2): 12-21 https://doi.org/10.19689/j.cnki.cn10-1361/h.20220201

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