The need for language planning to address English-language media pressures on minority language survival in bilingual populations

Abstract

Typical assumptions regarding language planning applied to populations bilingual in English and in a second, minority language are realised in an epidemiological system dynamics model. These assumptions are shown to fail to consider the overwhelming and growing influence of English-language media, both passive (entertainment) and active (especially social media). This influence is subsequently modelled as an English-speaking population of high connectivity, attracting actual and potential bilinguals to effective unilingualism. The flow and loop structure of the model is demonstrated to entail long-term English language dominance. The model is applied to bilingual populations in the United Kingdom, Eire, and New Zealand. Recent trends are duplicated and projections given. Threshold values of parameters critical for survival and for the attainment of published goals are found, and current language planning criticised with reference to these.

Keywords:

• Language planning
• 2nd-language education
• bilingualism
• media
• social media
• English language

Acknowledgements

The author would like to take this opportunity to thank the anonymous reviewers of this paper, whose input greatly informed its final content and presentation. Following their recommendations, amended orthography and layout was much informed by Rahmandad and Sterman (2012).

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).