Language Programs and Policies

• Multicultural setting is a context where multiple cultures and language coexist.
• Language policy determines the use, development, and teaching of language.
• Language program is the language that serves as the official function in a particular place and is usually mandated by the government.
• Official languages are the shared language used in diverse groups.
• Lingua franca refers to using more than 1 language.
• Multilingualism is the language that holds power in the society.
• Dominant language is the focus in here and it may discourage the use of minority languages in education and public spheres.
• Assimilationist policies are when one dominant language is used in public spheres like education, government and media.
• Monolingualism is when the minority groups are forced to conform to the dominant culture’s norms and values, often at the expense of their own.
• Cultural homogenization is the restriction or prohibition of the use of minority languages in certain contexts.
• Linguistic suppression says that different cultures should blend together to create a unified national identity with the dominant culture serving as the base.
• Melting pot ideology promotes bilingualism, typically focusing on integrating minority students into the dominant language while also supporting their heritage language development.
• Integrationist policies recognize and value the use of multiple languages within a society, promoting language rights and fostering linguistic diversity.
• Multilingual policies support the maintenance and development of minority languages for students who speak them at home Heritage Language Programs.
• Constitution mandates the usage of Tagalog for teaching technical and vocational courses.
• Magna Carta for Filipino Workers mandates Filipino language translation in all government agencies – EO No. 335 (2018).