The Effects of Language Policy on Minority Languages

Many countries have language policies with the purpose of promoting or discouraging the use of a particular language or a set of languages. In a multilingual country, the official language(s) is always favored by the national language policy; in contrast, the minority languages, to some extent, are hindered in their development. This paper, by the case studies of minority languages in New Zealand, Netherlands, and China, illustrates the effects of these countries' general language policies on their minority languages. Minority languages are seen as a part of cultural identity of minority groups. To protect their own culture and identity, they devote themselves to seek the equal right for their languages and cultures. In making language policies, the authorities should give respect and regard to the minority languages.