Promoting language policy
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Modern & Medieval Languages
Abstract
This research aims to strengthen the case for placing languages and the funding of language education higher up the political agenda by providing evidence for the economic value of languages to the United Kingdom. Whilst there are many excellent reports on the value of languages to key issues of our time, such as social cohesion, health and well-being and diplomacy and soft power, the economic case has not yet been made robustly enough. Building on the research from the AHRC funded programme, Multilingualism: Empowering Individuals, Transforming Societies and in partnership with RAND Europe, the project will model both bilateral trade flows and the effect of languages and the current and future economic effects of languages. In addition, an online archive of language policy documents will be created to serve as a resource for future research on language policy.
Publications
Ayres-Bennett W.
(2022)
The economic value to the UK of speaking other languages
Humphries E
(2022)
The hidden face of public language policy: a case study from the UK
in Current Issues in Language Planning
Ayres-Bennett W.
(2022)
The economic value to the UK of speaking other languages
in Languages, Society and Policy
| Description | There were two major outcomes to this project. First, the creation of a repository of language policy legislation and other policy documents. Second, the publication of The Economic Value to the UK of Speaking Other Languages (2022) which sets out the economic case for investing in languages in the UK. |
| Exploitation Route | The language policy repository is a valuable resource for all researchers as well as for policy makers. |
| Sectors | Education,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| URL | https://www.promotinglanguagepolicy.org/ |
| Description | The findings of The Economic Value to the UK of Speaking Other Languages have been cited in the House of Lords by Baroness Coussins on two occasions. The document has also been used by the Department for Education and more widely across Whitehall by those interested in languages. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Education,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Description | Introducing French Language Policy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Online presentation to the Civil Service Languages Network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Language Policy in the UK: Challenges and Future Directions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited keynote presentation at the BAAL Language Policy Forum 2021, held online. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Policy workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | UK Language Policy from 2015 to 2022 and beyond The aim of the workshop was to: ? Consider how language policy has progressed since the first national languages policy workshop in October 2015, which led to the publication of the policy document, The Value of Languages: https://www.publicpolicy.cam.ac.uk/system/files/documents/value-of-languages.pdf ? Showcase some of the excellent work on language policy being conducted in Whitehall and the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, including current priorities and, in some cases, about possible future directions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | The economic value to the UK of speaking other langauges |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Online presentation to the Cross-Whitehall Language Group |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | The economic value to the UK of speaking other langauges |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentaton to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Languages |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | The economic value to the UK of speaking other languages |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to the Civil Service Languages Network |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |