Language Policy in Portuguese-speaking Countries: Institutional Aspect

Abstract

The article examines the features of language policy in Portuguese-speaking countries. According to the author, language policy is the key to the solution of the linguistic problems of the national community and to the formation of the language environment. Language policy measures can be applied in three areas: institutional, educational and economic ones. In the field of institutional activity, legislative documents, especially the constitutions, are of primary importance. They determine the official or co-official status of the language. This study analyses the texts of the Constitutions and of the key acts of the Commonwealth of Portuguese Language Countries, which are the Declaration of Unification and the Charter. In addition, digital editions of the updated orthographic dictionaries were considered as a means to developing a unified spelling standard, which takes into account the national and territorial differentiation of the Portuguese language. The author notes that the language policy in Portuguese-language countries, being an instrument of nation-building and a symbol of the development of national culture, is at the same time a means to achieving political goals and a manifestation of historically marked identity. Through the analysis of the content of official documents, the author comes to the conclusion that Portuguese-speaking countries, being ethnically heterogeneous, are converging within the framework of language policy. Language policy, in turn, takes into consideration the priorities of youth policy, which involves the integration of young people with the help of the latest technological resources.