State policies and institutional language choice: the vitality of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian in higher education

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Aukštasis išsilavinimas; Aukštasis mokslas; Institucinis reguliavimas; Kalbos gyvybingumas; Kalbos tvarumas; Lingua franca; Reguliavimas nacionaliniu lygmeniu; Sritis; Strateginiai dokumentai; Valstybinė kalba; Valstybinė politika; Valstybės politika; Domain; Higher education; Institutional level regulation; Language vitality; Lingua franca; National level regulation; Official language; State policy; Strategic documents; Sustainability of language.

ENWhen researchers developed the concept of language vitality and its indicators, they had in mind mostly small and endangered languages. For example, in 2002 and 2003 UNESCO asked an international group of linguists to develop a framework for determining the vitality of a language in order to assist in policy development, identification of needs, and appropriate safeguarding measures. This ad hoc expert group on endangered languages produced a landmark concept paper entitled “Language Vitality and Endangerment”, which established the following nine criteria (Brenzinger et al. 2003): 1) intergenerational language transmission, 2) absolute number of speakers, 3) proportion of the speakers of the given language in the total population, 4) trends in existing language domains, 5) response to new domains and media, 6) materials for education and literacy, 7) governmental language attitudes and policies, 8) community members’ attitudes to their language, and 9) the amount and quality of documentation. If we evaluate the vitality of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian by these criteria, they certainly cannot be considered endangered languages because 1. they have a critical mass of speakers, who represent the majority in their respective countries; 2. they enjoy the status of an official language and the status of official languages of the EU; 3. the languages are used in all spheres of life including everyday communication and high culture, business and science; 4. the languages are used as a medium of instruction on all educational levels from compulsory school to doctoral studies; 5. the languages are used at home, and are passed on to future generations; 6. It support is available for them. [...]. [Extract, p. 235]