The paper provides a practical example of the national and official language selection, which is based on a model of the fictitious country Lopogno. Before choosing a single and extensively used language in the state, it is crucial to refer to some particular distinctive features, which define the official tongue. Specifically, one should take into consideration that there are three fundamental principles, according to which the language should be overtaken. First, it should identify the legislation of the country.
Therefore, the language must be statutory and has to reflect the constitution of the state. Second, it is important to outline the scopes of the tongue recognition so that to ensure the national character of the specific language. Finally, it is critical making sure that the language shows the national identity of the country and complies with the ethnic values and history of the state (Lewis par. 5).
The citizens of Lopogno speak several languages, depending on the territory, two of which are mutually intelligible. These are Lapugna and Lapagavi. In other words, such tongues, which can be recognized by the non-residents of the particular country (“Linguists’ Definition: Mutual Intelligibility” par. 2). The other three languages, which include Tonakaki, Dimanga, and Soloso bear a status of local dialects since they are popular only among the citizens of separate parts of Lopogno.
The official language must be selected out of the mutually intelligible tongues, for the state already possesses a range of legislator documents in these languages. Moreover, they are spread in the spheres of education as well as represent the country on the international scale. It is doubtful whether the government should accept Lapugna, Lapagavi or French, which is a high-rank tongue of literacy in Lopogno. In this context, it is significant to operate the interests of the country.
Mainly, one should follow the example of the Great Britain, which discarded the influence of French in the 13th century (“A Brief History of the English Language” par. 12). According to the definition of the national language, it is the compilation of signs that symbolize ethnic heritage (Lecomte par. 7). Therefore, loaning a foreign tongue as an official language might result in the eradication of traditional culture.
The final selection of the formal and national language must be based on the principle of literacy improvement and striving for the general prosperity of the state (Barcon par. 6). Therefore, since Lapugna is the language of the central part of the country and is spoken by the educated population, it is easy to spread the speaking type to the other districts of Lopogno so that to promote social improvements throughout the country.
Moreover, the name of the tongue is highly conformable with the behalf of the state. Consequently, the congruity might make the state recognizable in the international space. Despite the fact that Lapugna language has to become a uniform tongue of the legal documents and official communication, it is important to protect Lapagavi tongue from extinction since the latter is used by the prevailing part of the ethnic population. Therefore, this variant of speech possesses some national identity and should be preserved in the history of the country. The anti-example for the act is the experience of the USA, which included strict Americanization as a precondition for raising new populations in the 20th century (McWhorter par. 1).
Works Cited
A Brief History of the English Language. 2010. Web.
Barcon, Lincoln. The Importance of Culture and National Identity in the Society. 2014. Web.
Lecomte, Lucie. Official Languages or National Languages? Canada’s Decision. 2015. Web.
Lewis, Paul. Functions of Languages in Countries. 2013. Web.
Linguists’ Definition: Mutual Intelligibility 2006. Web.
McWhorter, John. How Americans Have Reshaped Language. 2012. Web.