Nationalism, language shift, and language maintenance

Abstract

The paper discusses the role of nationalism in motivating and directing language policies in a multicultural/multilingual setting. It explores the relationships between nationalism, and language shift and language maintenance. Nationalist movements can playa major role in promoting the linguistics policies needed to maintain the native language. However, it also causes shift from one indigenous language to another. Therefore, the paper focuses on "nationalist groups" and their role in the maintenance of the indigenous languages in Sarawak. The organised efforts to preserve and defend ethnocultural distinctiveness, often symbolised by the language associated with the group, are considered as movement that can promote the spread or maintenance of a language. It also examines the language use practices in the state of Sarawak with regard to the national ideology and the current policies regarding the retention and espousal of other indigenous languages in Sarawak. The paper also considers Fishman's distinction between "nationality" and "ethnic group" and their role in achieving national identity. The degree of nationality or ethnicity of sociocultural groups in Sarawak will be evaluated.