1887
  1. Home
  2. e-Journals
  3. Dutch Journal of Applied Linguistics
  4. Volume 9, Issue 1
  5. Article
Volume 9, Issue 1-2
  • ISSN 2211-7245
  • E-ISSN: 2211-7253
PDF

Abstract

Abstract

Universities in the Netherlands are currently faced with finding a balance between the implementation of English-medium instruction and the protection and promotion of Dutch. In this article I analyse university language policy documents from a discursive and critical perspective. I explore the intertextual transformations involved in a multilevel process of policymaking; that is, as policy discourse shifts from the state legislation governing the language of instruction in higher education to the codes of conduct for language of the publicly funded universities. The institutions use various discursive strategies, including intertextuality and recontextualisation, to legitimate their reinterpretation of the basic legal principle ‘Dutch, unless’ as ‘English, unless’ (at master’s level, and increasingly at bachelor’s level too). Although the current law is set to be amended, it appears the proposed new law will simply require universities to do more paperwork while continuing on their current path.

© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/dujal.19028.edw
2020-05-27
2024-10-04

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1075/dujal.19028.edw
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/dujal.19028.edw.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.1075/dujal.19028.edw&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Barakos, E., & Unger, J. W.
    (2016) Discursive approaches to language policy. London: Palgrave Macmillan. 10.1057/978‑1‑137‑53134‑6
     https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-53134-6 [Google Scholar]
  2. Bernstein, B.
    (1990) The structuring of pedagogic discourse. London: Routledge. 10.4324/9780203011263
     https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203011263 [Google Scholar]
  3. Beter Onderwijs Nederland vs. Maastricht University/University of Twente
    Beter Onderwijs Nederland vs. Maastricht University/University of Twente (2018) C/16/460210 / KG ZA 18-278. Retrieved on28 June 2019fromhttps://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/inziendocument?id=ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2018:3117
  4. Björkman, B.
    (2015) Attitudes towards English in university language policy documents in Sweden. InA. Linn, N. Bermel, & G. R. Ferguson (Eds.), Attitudes towards English in Europe (pp.115–138). Berlin & Boston: Walter de Gruyter. 10.1515/9781614515517‑007
     https://doi.org/10.1515/9781614515517-007 [Google Scholar]
  5. Cots, J. M., Lasagabaster, D., & Garrett, P.
    (2012) Multilingual policies and practices of universities in three bilingual regions in Europe. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 216, 7–32. doi:  10.1515/ijsl‑2012‑0037
     https://doi.org/10.1515/ijsl-2012-0037 [Google Scholar]
  6. De Groot, A., Jurgens, E., & Verbrugge, A.
    (2019) Oproep aan de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal [Appeal to the House of Representatives of the Netherlands]. Retrieved on1 April 2019fromwww.beteronderwijsnederland.nl/nieuws/2019/03/oproep-tk-nederlands-volledig/
  7. De Jong, F.
    (2018) English as a medium of instruction in higher education in a cross-national context. Unpublished PhD dissertation, University of Groningen. Retrieved fromhttps://www.rug.nl/research/portal/en/publications/english-as-medium-of-instruction-in-higher-education-in-a-crossnational-context(7f276a49-28eb-4efa-ac77-69cd2a7ade27).html
  8. De Vos, J. F., Schriefers, H., & Lemhöfer, K.
    (fc.). Does study language (Dutch versus English) influence study success of Dutch and German students in the Netherlands?Dutch Journal of Applied Linguistics.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Fairclough, N.
    (1992) Intertextuality in critical discourse analysis. Linguistics and Education, 4, 269–293. 10.1016/0898‑5898(92)90004‑G
     https://doi.org/10.1016/0898-5898(92)90004-G [Google Scholar]
  10. Haberland, H.
    (2014) English from above and below, and from outside. InA. K. Hultgren, F. Gregersen, & J. Thogersen (Eds.), English in Nordic universities: Ideologies and practices (pp.251–263). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Hornberger, N. H., & Johnson, D. C.
    (2007) Slicing the onion ethnographically: Layers and spaces in multilingual education policy and practice. TESOL Quarterly, 41(3), 509–532. 10.1002/j.1545‑7249.2007.tb00083.x
     https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1545-7249.2007.tb00083.x [Google Scholar]
  12. Hultgren, A. K.
    (2014) English language use at the internationalised universities of Northern Europe: Is there a correlation between Englishisation and world rank?Multilingua, 33(3–4). doi:  10.1515/multi‑2014‑0018
     https://doi.org/10.1515/multi-2014-0018 [Google Scholar]
  13. Inspectie van het Onderwijs
    Inspectie van het Onderwijs (2018a) De Staat van het Onderwijs 2018 | Onderwijsverslag over 2016/2017. [The state of education 2018: Education report 2016/17]. The Hague: Inspectorate of Education, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Retrieved on7 December 2018fromwww.onderwijsinspectie.nl/documenten/rapporten/2018/04/11/rapport-de-staat-van-het-onderwijs
  14. Inspectie van het Onderwijs
    Inspectie van het Onderwijs (2018b) Nederlands of niet: gedragscodes en taalbeleid in het hoger onderwijs [Dutch or not: Codes of conduct and language policy in higher education]. Utrect: Inspectorate of Education, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Retrieved on15 January 2019fromchrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/https://www.onderwijsinspectie.nl/binaries/onderwijsinspectie/documenten/rapporten/2018/12/21/nederlands-of-niet-gedragscodes-en-taalbeleid-in-het-hoger-onderwijs/Nederlands+of+niet.+Gedragscodes+en+taal
  15. Johnson, D. C.
    (2015) Intertextuality and language policy. InF. M. Hult, & D. C. Johnson (Eds.), Research methods in language policy and planning: A practical guide (pp.166–180). Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Kuteeva, M., & Airey, J.
    (2014) Disciplinary differences in the use of English in higher education: Reflections on recent language policy developments. Higher Education, 67(5), 533–549. doi:  10.1007/s10734‑013‑9660‑6
     https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-013-9660-6 [Google Scholar]
  17. Maiworm, F., & Wächter, B.
    (2014) The big picture. InB. Wächter, & F. Maiworm (Eds.), English-taught programmes in European higher education: The state of play in 2014 (pp.25–62). Bonn: Lemmens.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Mortensen, J.
    (2014) Language policy from below: Language choice in student project groups in a multilingual university setting. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 35(4), 425–442. doi:  10.1080/01434632.2013.874438
     https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2013.874438 [Google Scholar]
  19. Nuffic
    Nuffic. (n.d.). Nuffic glossary: Initiële opleiding. Retrieved on17 June 2019fromwww.nuffic.nl/en/nuffic-glossary/initiële-opleiding/
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Piller, I., & Cho, J.
    (2013) Neoliberalism as language policy. Language in Society, 42(1), 23–44. 10.1017/S0047404512000887
     https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404512000887 [Google Scholar]
  21. Ricento, T. K., & Hornberger, N. H.
    (1996) Unpeeling the onion: Language planning and policy and the ELT professional. TESOL Quarterly, 30(3), 401–427. 10.2307/3587691
     https://doi.org/10.2307/3587691 [Google Scholar]
  22. Rijksoverheid
    Rijksoverheid (2018) NVAO gaat vanaf februari taalkeuze hoger onderwijs toetsen [NVAO to assess language choice in higher education as of February]. Retrieved on28 June 2019fromwww.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2018/10/12/nvao-gaat-vanaf-februari-taalkeuze-hoger-onderwijs-toetsen
  23. Saarinen, T.
    (2012) Internationalization of Finnish higher education – is language an issue?International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 216, 157–173.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. (2014) Language ideologies in Finnish higher education in the national and international context: A historical and contemporary outlook. InA. K. Hultgren, F. Gregersen, & J. Thøgersen (Eds.), English in Nordic universities: Ideologies and practices (pp.127–146). Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Saarinen, T., & Nikula, T.
    (2013) Implicit policy, invisible language: Policies and practices of international degree programmes in Finnish higher education. InA. Doiz, D. Lasagabaster, & J. Sierra (Eds.), English-medium instruction at universities: Global challenges (pp.131–150). Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Saarinen, T., & Taalas, P.
    (2017) Nordic language policies for higher education and their multi-layered motivations. Higher Education, 73(4), 597–612. doi:  10.1007/s10734‑015‑9981‑8
     https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-015-9981-8 [Google Scholar]
  27. Söderlundh, H.
    (2012) Global policies and local norms: Sociolinguistic awareness and language choice at an international university. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 216, 87–109. doi:  10.1515/ijsl‑2012‑0041
     https://doi.org/10.1515/ijsl-2012-0041 [Google Scholar]
  28. Soler-Carbonell, J.
    (2015) Language policy in Estonian higher education: Internationalisation and the tension over English. InS. Dimova, A. K. Hultgren, & C. Jensen (Eds.), English-medium instruction in European higher education (pp.247–268). Boston/Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. 10.1515/9781614515272‑013
     https://doi.org/10.1515/9781614515272-013 [Google Scholar]
  29. Soler-Carbonell, J., & Gallego-Balsà, L.
    (2016) The internationalisation of higher education in two different contexts: Catalan and Estonian sociolinguistic perspectives. Language Culture and Curriculum, 29(1), 40–55. doi:  10.1080/07908318.2016.1132656
     https://doi.org/10.1080/07908318.2016.1132656 [Google Scholar]
  30. Soler-Carbonell, J., Saarinen, T., & Kibbermann, K.
    (2017) Multilayered perspectives on language policy in higher education: Finland, Estonia, and Latvia in comparison. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 38(4), 301–314. doi:  10.1080/01434632.2016.1198356
     https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2016.1198356 [Google Scholar]
  31. Soler, J., Björkman, B., & Kuteeva, M.
    (2018) University language policies in Estonia and Sweden: Exploring the interplay between English and national languages in higher education. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 39(1), 29–43. doi:  10.1080/01434632.2017.1307844
     https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2017.1307844 [Google Scholar]
  32. Spolsky, B.
    (2004) Language policy. Cambridge: CUP.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Taalunieversum
    Taalunieversum. (n.d.). Education glossary: Initieel onderwijs. Retrieved on27 June 2019fromtaalunieversum.org/onderwijs/termen/term/907/initieel_onderwijs/
  34. Tollefson, J. W.
    (1991) Planning language, planning inequality. London and New York: Longman.
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Tsui, A. B. M., & Tollefson, J. W.
    (2004) The centrality of medium-of-instruction policy in sociopolitical processes. InJ. W. Tollefson, & A. B. M. Tsui (Eds.), Medium of instruction policies: Which agenda? Whose agenda?Mahwah, NJ and London: Lawrence Erlbaum.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. Van Engelshoven, I.
    (2018) Wetsvoorstel: Wet taal en toegankelijkheid [Bill on Language and Accessibility Act] (Draft amendment to the Higher Education and Research Act). The Hague: Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Retrieved on15 January 2019fromchrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/https://www.internetconsultatie.nl/toegankelijkheidho/document/4189
  37. Van Oostendorp, M.
    (2012) Bilingualism versus multilingualism in the Netherlands. Language Problems and Language Planning, 36(3), 252–272. 10.1075/lplp.36.3.04van
     https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.36.3.04van [Google Scholar]
  38. VSNU
    VSNU (2017) Factsheet: Taalbeleid universiteiten [Fact sheet: Universities’ language policy]. Association of Dutch Universities (VSNU). Retrieved on15 January 2019fromchrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/https://www.vsnu.nl/files/documenten/Factsheets/Factsheet/Taalbeleid.pdf
  39. VSNU
    VSNU (2018) Taalbeleid hoger onderwijs en actuele cijfers opleidingstaal [Higher education language policy and current figures on language of instruction]. Association of Dutch Universities (VSNU). Retrieved on15 January 2019fromwww.vsnu.nl/nl_NL/nieuwsbericht/nieuwsbericht/382-taalbeleid-hoger-onderwijs-en-actuele-cijfers-opleidingstaal.html
  40. VSNU
    VSNU (2019a) Taal bacheloropleidingen ’17-’18 [Language of bachelor’s programmes 2017/18]. Association of Dutch Universities (VSNU). Retrieved on1 May 2019fromchrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/http:/www.vsnu.nl/files/documenten/Taalbacheloropleidingen 17–18 – peropleiding.pdfchrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/http:/www.vsnu.nl/files/documenten/Taalbacheloropleidingen 17–18
  41. VSNU
    VSNU (2019b) Taal masteropleidingen ’17-’18 [Language of master’s programmes 2017/18]. Association of Dutch Universities (VSNU). Retrieved on1 May 2019fromchrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/http:/www.vsnu.nl/files/documenten/Taal/masteropleidingen/17-18-per/opleiding.pdf
  42. VVD, CDA, D66, & ChristenUnie
    VVD, CDA, D66, & ChristenUnie (2017) Vertrouwen in de toekomst: Regeerakkoord 2017–2021 [Faith in the future: Coalition agreement 2017–2021]. The Hague. Retrieved on20 June 2019from. doi:  10.1007/s41196‑017‑0532‑y
     https://doi.org/10.1007/s41196-017-0532-y [Google Scholar]
  43. Wet op het hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek, WHW [Higher Education and Research Act])
    Wet op het hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek, WHW [Higher Education and Research Act]) (1992) Available athttps://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005682/2019-02-01
  44. Wodak, R.
    (2009) The discourse of politics in action: Politics as usual. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
     [Google Scholar]
  45. Wodak, R., & Fairclough, N.
    (2010) Recontextualizing European higher education policies: The cases of Austria and Romania. Critical Discourse Studies, 7(1), 19–40. doi:  10.1080/17405900903453922
     https://doi.org/10.1080/17405900903453922 [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/dujal.19028.edw
Loading
Language policy and the law
Dutch Journal of Applied Linguistics 9, 38 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1075/dujal.19028.edw
/content/journals/10.1075/dujal.19028.edw
/content/journals/10.1075/dujal.19028.edw
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): critical discourse analysis; discursive approaches to language policy; English-medium instruction; higher education; internationalisation; language of instruction; language policy; Netherlands; universities

Most Cited

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was successful
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error