英国语言战略制度化浅论

On the Institutionalization of the National Languages Strategy in the UK

英国语言战略是近十几年来英国重要的外语教育规划行为,其目的是提升国民的外语能力,满足国家在安全外交、经济商贸、个人发展、多元社会和学术研究方面的需求。本文基于制度三要素的分析框架,回顾了英国语言战略在正式制约、非正式制约和实施这几个方面的进展、成效和问题,提出要保持制度三要素的连贯性、长期性和互动性,才能使英国语言战略“制度化”,从而真正改变外语教育的现状。

The National Languages Strategy(NLS)is an important planning action in the UK targeted at promoting foreign language education over the last decade or so.Its purpose is to improve the foreign language profi ciency for citizens in the UK so as to meet the demand of national interests of security and diplomacy,economy and trade,and the development of individual citizenship.Furthermore,language planning activities also play a role in enhancing societal pluralism and academic endeavours.Based on the analytical framework of the three components of institution proposed,this paper reviews the progress,eff ectiveness and weaknesses of NLS in the aspects of formal rules,informal rules and enforcement.The fi ndings show that the past experience of language education planning demonstrates both strength and weakness.For future directions,only when NLS remains continuous,time enduring and interactive in terms of the three components can it be“institutionalized”and eventually change the current situation of foreign language education.