of Hawaii has two official languages, Hawaiian and English, according to its
constitution. However, covert policy favours English in all domains.
see also LANGUAGE PLANNINGlanguage production n
the processes involved in creating and expressing meaning through language.
Numerous theories in psycholinguistics and cognitive psychology attempt
to account for the different processes involved in language production.
Among the different stages involved are:
Construction: the speaker or writer selects communicative goals, and
creates propositions which express intended meanings.
Transformation or articulation: meanings are encoded in linguistic form
according to the grammar of the target language.
Execution: the message is expressed in audible or visible form through
speech or writing.
An important issue in theories of language production is whether the pro-
cesses involved are analogous to those involved in language comprehension
(though in reverse order).
see also language comprehension
language proficiency n
the degree of skill with which a person can use a language, such as how
well a person can read, write, speak, or understand language. This can be
contrasted with language achievement, which describes language ability
as a result of learning. Proficiency may be measured through the use of a
proficiency test.
language programme design n
another term for course design
language programme evaluation n
see evaluation
language revitalization programme n
a programme intended to help to revive or strengthen a language which is
in danger of dying out, such as programmes for the teaching of Irish in
Ireland or several American Indian languages.
languages for special purposes n
also languages for specific purposes, LSP
second or foreign languages used for particular and restricted types of com-
munication (e.g. for medical reports, scientific writing, air-traffic control)
languages for special purposes