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Article published In: Language Problems and Language Planning
Vol. 46:1 (2022) ► pp.55–77

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Problematising ASEAN language policy

Is the ASEAN Way the only way?

ORCiD logo with link | The University of Queensland
ORCiD logo with link | The University of Queensland
ORCiD logo with link | The University of Queensland
Published online: 28 March 2022
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.21044.lee
Abstract
In a world where linguistic and cultural diversity is increasingly celebrated, opting for English as the sole working language, as stipulated in the ASEAN Charter, on pragmatic grounds, has made ASEAN an interesting case study from the language policy and planning (LPP) perspective. ASEAN’s LPP can be understood as the manifestation of the principles of the ‘ASEAN Way’, i.e., quiet diplomacy, non-interference, and flexible consensus. Drawing on an analysis of the three overarching principles of the ASEAN Way and with reference to the ASEAN Charter, this paper problematises the ASEAN Way of LPP, arguing that a monolingual and essentialist approach to LPP might be both insufficient and inappropriate, and calls for an ecology-of-languages paradigm for ASEAN LPP. It invites readers to reimagine language policy that is more inclusive, democratic and socially equitable – one that reflects the sociolinguistic diversity of Southeast Asia and the Association.
Abstrak
Memandangkan dunia kini semakin meraikan kepelbagaian bahasa dan budaya, pemilihan Bahasa Inggeris sebagai satu-satunya bahasa pengoperasian, seperti yang termaktub dalam Piagam ASEAN, atas pertimbangan pragmatik, menjadikan ASEAN satu kajian kes yang menarik dari segi dasar dan perancangan bahasa (LPP). LPP di ASEAN boleh difahamkan sebagai suatu pemaparan prinsip-prinsip ‘Cara ASEAN’ termasuk diplomasi secara senyap, tiadanya campur tangan dan kesepakatan lentur. Melalui analisis ketiga-tiga sifat umum Cara ASEAN serta merujuk kepada Piagam ASEAN, kertas ilmiah ini membincangkan permasalahan Cara ASEAN dalam LPP, dengan menekankan bahawa hujah pendekatan LPP menggunakan bahasa tunggal dan berkepentingan semata-mata adalah tidak mencukupi dan kurang sesuai, sekaligus mencadangkan pendekatan paradigma ekologi bahasa untuk LPP di ASEAN. Penulis mengajak para pembaca untuk membayangkan satu dasar bahasa yang lebih inklusif, demokratik dan menjurus ke arah keadilan sosial, yakni dasar bahasa yang mencerminkan kepelbagaian sosiolinguistik di Asia Tenggara dan Kesatuan ASEAN.
Resumo
En mondo kie lingva kaj kultura diverseco estas pli kaj pli elstarigata, elekti la anglan kiel la solan laborlingvon, kiel stipulite en la Ĉarto de ASEAN pro pragmatikaj kialoj, igis ASEAN interesa kazostudo el perspektivo de lingvopolitiko kaj lingvoplanado (LPP). La LPP de ASEAN povas esti komprenata kiel manifestiĝo de la principoj de la ‘Vojo ASEAN’, nome kvieta diplomatio, neinterveno kaj fleksebla interkonsento. Ĉerpante el analizo de la tri kupolaj principoj de la Vojo ASEAN kaj aludante la Ĉarton de ASEAN, la nuna referaĵo problemigas la Vojon ASEAN de LPP, argumentante, ke unulingva kaj esencista aliro al LPP eventuale estas kaj nesufiĉa kaj netaŭga, kaj alvokante al paradigmo por LPP de ASEAN surbaze de lingvo-ekologio. Ĝi invitas legantojn, ke ili reimagu lingvan politikon kiu estu pli inkluziva, demokratia kaj socie justa – politiko kiu spegulas la socilingvistikan diversecon de Sudorienta Azio kaj la Asocio.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Sociolinguistic context of Southeast Asia and the choice of English for ASEAN
  • Problematising the ASEAN Way of LPP
    • What is the ‘ASEAN Way’?
  • Quiet diplomacy
  • Non-interference and soft regionalism
  • Flexible consensus
  • From the ASEAN Way to an Alternative Way in regional LPP
  • Conclusion
  • References
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