多语背景下的马来西亚语言规划历程与思考

A Refl ection on Developing Course of Language Planning in Multilingual Malaysia

马来西亚具有丰富的语言资源,有其重要的外在与内在价值。通过回顾马来西亚建国之后的语言规划历程,分析马来西亚语言规划过程中语言价值的体现,我们认为,英语教数理政策的失败原因主要是政策制定者忽略了马来西亚诸多民族语言的内在价值。从语言资源观和语言价值观驱动方面看:国语的声望规划仍需加强;少数族群语言的外在价值需要制度支持;国家应统筹语言资源的配置;语言资源的内在价值应给予充分考虑。马来西亚的语言规划经验带给我们的启示是:如果充分利用语言资源,发挥其内在和外在价值,那么不仅会带来实际的经济效益,而且还会促进民族团结、国家稳定,于民于国不无裨益。

Drawing upon theories of language resource and linguistic value,this paper attempts to examine the rich language resources and their intrinsic and extrinsic values in Malaysia and review the process of language planning after the independence.The paper further analyses the various forms of linguistic values manifested in language planning by applying Ruiz’s theory of linguistic values.The fi ndings show that whereas the intrinsic values are manifested in the areas of ethnic identity,cultural transmission and religious application,the extrinsic values lie in diplomatic operation,commercial activities and interethnic harmony.Based on these fi ndings,this paper argues that it is the neglect of the intrinsic values of ethnic languages in Malaysia that led to the failure of the Teaching Mathematics and Science in English policy.Malaysian experience demonstrates that the perspectives of language-as-resources and linguistic values can play a role in language policy making and implementation.As conclusion,four suggestions driven by theories of language resources and linguistic value are proposed on language planning.The implications of Malaysia’s language planning are that theories concerning language-as-resources and linguistic value orientations not only can impact on the formulation and implementation of language policy,the full consideration of which also can bring economic benefi ts and promote national unity and stability.