Power, ideology and language policies in Scotland

Abstract

This paper deals with the role of power and ideology in language policies in Scotland and focuses on how policies promote certain languages whilst disadvantaging others. It investigates pre- and post-devolutionary legislation on language use in Scotland and examines how the role of power in policymaking has changed since the devolution of powers in 1998. Using Tollefson’s Historical Structural Analysis (HSA), the paper analyses the historical and structural factors underpinning these changes. Moreover, the paper also uses Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to assess how the changes in sociopolitical context are reflected at the textual level.