权利与语言:澳大利亚原住民语言保护政策

Rights and Language: An Inquiry into the Theories and Practices of Indigenous Languages Protection Policies in Australia

20世纪80年代,澳大利亚制定了自己的以多语教育和多元文化为特点的国家语言政策,成为英语国家中第一个有这种政策的国家,政府采取了多种措施来保护和发展澳大利亚原住民的语言和文化。进入21世纪后,在全球化的压力下,澳大利亚政府加强了英语教育在国内外的作用。除了继续支持原住民语言教育之外,政府也希望提高原住民的英语能力。国家语言政策的这种微妙改变,实际上使原住民被迫放弃本族语言,转向英语,结果导致原住民的语言流失不断加剧。在处理多民族国家内部的语言问题上,中国和澳大利亚有相同之处。澳大利亚原住民语言保护面临的问题,同时也是包括中国在内的世界各国少数民族语言和文化面临的问题。

In the 1980s,based on the concept of multilingual education and multiculturalism,Australia produced its national language policy and became the first among English-speaking countries to have such a policy.Since then,Australia has adopted a series of policies to protect and maintain aboriginal languages.In the 21st century,however,under the pressure of globalization,the Australian administration has strengthened English education both at home and abroad.While continuing supporting their languages,the government also wants Australian aboriginals to improve their English.Due to the policy adjustment,many aboriginals have shifted to the dominant language,i.e.,English,and consequently this shift has caused the death of aboriginal languages at a more rapid rate.Despite many differences,there are similarities between Australia and China in terms of language issues in a multiethnic and multilingual country.Both of these two countries have one dominate common language-English in Australia and Putonghua in China;both of them have many dialects and minority languages.The challenges that Australia faces in terms of aboriginal language protection are also problems that China and many nations in the world face.