<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In this note, we outline various possible long-run effects of an English-only acquisition policy in the European Union. The point of departure is how individual behaviour adapts to constraints in the environment. This leads to changes in collective behaviour, which becomes part of the environment, again influencing individual behaviour. Possible equilibria of this feedback mechanism are discussed. It is argued that domain loss and diglossia may result. The process is further characterized by external effects. Looking at language knowledge as a merit good, path dependencies and multiple stable equilibria can be explained.</p></abstract>

In this note, we outline various possible long-run effects of an English-only acquisition policy in the European Union. The point of departure is how individual behaviour adapts to constraints in the environment. This leads to changes in collective behaviour, which becomes part of the environment, again influencing individual behaviour. Possible equilibria of this feedback mechanism are discussed. It is argued that domain loss and diglossia may result. The process is further characterized by external effects. Looking at language knowledge as a merit good, path dependencies and multiple stable equilibria can be explained.

English-Only Language Policy: The Road to Provincialism?

Fakultät für Internationale Beziehungen, Andrássy-Universität Budapest

Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, European and Regional Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"English-Only Language Policy: The Road to Provincialism?"}

In this note, we outline various possible long-run effects of an English-only acquisition policy in the European Union. The point of departure is how...

English-Only Language Policy: The Road to Provincialism?

Published Online: Oct 26, 2016

Page range: 71 - 76

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/auseur-2016-0010

Keywords
acquisition planning, adaptive individual behaviour, diglossia, domain loss, external effects, language dynamics, language policy, merit good, path dependencies

© 2016 Bengt-Arne Wickström, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

English-Only Language Policy: The Road to Provincialism?

Published Online: Oct 26, 2016

Page range: 71 - 76

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/auseur-2016-0010

Keywordsacquisition planning, adaptive individual behaviour, diglossia, domain loss, external effects, language dynamics, language policy, merit good, path dependencies

© 2016 Bengt-Arne Wickström, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
acquisition planning, adaptive individual behaviour, diglossia, domain loss, external effects, language dynamics, language policy, merit good, path dependencies