LANGUAGE PLANNING AND POLICY: AN EXPLORATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND PERSPECTIVES IN THE SRI LANKAN STATE UNIVERSITY CONTEXT

Abstract

As a multilingual country, Sri Lanka experiences numerous consequences in specifying a language for main functions such as education. Although a proper language management procedure is crucial in ensuring language rights in plurilinguistic learning environments, overt and covert language policies are in effect in the state university system in Sri Lanka with an influence on people’s identity, lifestyle, and pedagogical processes. However, a discrepancy is apparent between the codified language policy and planning on higher education and the implementation of those policies in the actual context. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to investigate the implementation of the concepts of language planning and policy on higher education in the state university context, with an especial focus on the Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Ruhuna, and the perspectives of the inhabitants regarding those enacted language policies within the institution. To achieve the research objectives, a qualitative approach was used in the present study. Hence, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 first-year students and two academic staff members to investigate their experiences and perspectives regarding the language policy and planning strategies enacted in the university context. According to the findings of the study, the students have many challenges in lecture comprehension when English becomes the only medium of instruction. Moreover, there are numerous practical obstacles and communication problems that Tamil language-speaking students face in their day-to-day activities within the university premises among the majority of Sinhala speakers. Additionally, there are discrepancies between the policy regarding national languages and its implementation in the university system. In conclusion, it is evident that the documented policies are not practiced authentically in the state university context in Sri Lanka and the perspectives of the inhabitants are both positive and negative on different occasions.