| Papers & Workshops |
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Dr Nigel Bagnall
Faculty of Education, University of Sydney, Australia
Language is high politics in Australia. Which groups within
society gain maximum advantage in a multi-cultural country such
as this? The recent Howard government retreat on multi-ethnic
issues in general has seen less funding available for many programs
previously seen as vital to the perpetuation of the multi-cultural
state. What effect does the inclusion or exclusion of different
languages have upon various native speakers? Does the language
of instruction in a country make native speakers of other languages
feel alienated? Does the exclusion of Aboriginal languages, in
particular, make the education system an alienating experience?
Does the language of instruction suggest something about the
status of that language, and those languages that are excluded,
or is it merely a convenient means of communication? Is language
the key to unifying all the different linguistic groups within
Australian society? How can education providers best serve the
interests of all students, not just those whose mother tongue
is English? This paper will look at the contemporary Australian
education scene and suggest a direction for future language policy
heading into the twenty first century.
RMIT, Melbourne, Australia
5-9 July 2000