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English within Language Diversification Discourses: Tracing Ideologies at European Teaching Conferences in the 1970s and 1980s

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Title: English within Language Diversification Discourses: Tracing Ideologies at European Teaching Conferences in the 1970s and 1980s
Language: English
Authors: Zorana Sokolovska (ORCID 0000-0001-5112-1513), Maria Rosa Garrido (ORCID 0000-0001-9391-3885)
Source: Multilingua: Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication. 2026 45(3):313-339.
Availability: De Gruyter Mouton. Available from: Walter de Gruyter, Inc. 121 High Street, Third Floor, Boston, MA 02110. Tel: 857-284-7073; Fax: 857-284-7358; e-mail: service@degruyter.com; Web site: http://www.degruyter.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 27
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, English (Second Language), Language Attitudes, Language Usage, Ideology, Conferences (Gatherings), Language Planning, Educational Policy, Discourse Analysis, Multilingualism, Semiotics, Official Languages, Diversity
Geographic Terms: Europe
DOI: 10.1515/multi-2025-0163
ISSN: 0167-8507
1613-3684
Abstract: This article critically examines the ideological positioning of English within discourses of language teaching diversification promoted by European institutions and circulating in Western European countries during the 1970s and 1980s. Drawing on institutional reports from three key Council of Europe conferences (1979, 1982, 1988), we adopt a historical and multi-layered approach to language educational policy to trace how multilingualism was constructed as a European ideal, while omitting the growing dominance of English as the primary foreign language. Using Gal and Irvine's semiotic model of language ideologies, we analyse processes of erasure in connection with rhematisation and fractal recursivity to trace the presence of English in marginal sites such as inaugural speeches and informal discussions at these conferences. This study highlights the value of "traces" and "marginal data" for understanding ideological tensions in international language policymaking. It demonstrates that diversification policies were not neutral but functioned as a discursive strategy to manage English-centric multilingualism, reinforcing hierarchies among languages and speakers.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1508893
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: English within Language Diversification Discourses: Tracing Ideologies at European Teaching Conferences in the 1970s and 1980s
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zorana+Sokolovska%22">Zorana Sokolovska</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5112-1513">0000-0001-5112-1513</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maria+Rosa+Garrido%22">Maria Rosa Garrido</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9391-3885">0000-0001-9391-3885</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Multilingua%3A+Journal+of+Cross-Cultural+and+Interlanguage+Communication%22"><i>Multilingua: Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication</i></searchLink>. 2026 45(3):313-339.
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  Data: De Gruyter Mouton. Available from: Walter de Gruyter, Inc. 121 High Street, Third Floor, Boston, MA 02110. Tel: 857-284-7073; Fax: 857-284-7358; e-mail: service@degruyter.com; Web site: http://www.degruyter.com
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  Data: 27
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Attitudes%22">Language Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Usage%22">Language Usage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ideology%22">Ideology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Conferences+%28Gatherings%29%22">Conferences (Gatherings)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Planning%22">Language Planning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Policy%22">Educational Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Discourse+Analysis%22">Discourse Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multilingualism%22">Multilingualism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Semiotics%22">Semiotics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Official+Languages%22">Official Languages</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diversity%22">Diversity</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Europe%22">Europe</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1515/multi-2025-0163
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  Label: ISSN
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  Data: 0167-8507<br />1613-3684
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This article critically examines the ideological positioning of English within discourses of language teaching diversification promoted by European institutions and circulating in Western European countries during the 1970s and 1980s. Drawing on institutional reports from three key Council of Europe conferences (1979, 1982, 1988), we adopt a historical and multi-layered approach to language educational policy to trace how multilingualism was constructed as a European ideal, while omitting the growing dominance of English as the primary foreign language. Using Gal and Irvine's semiotic model of language ideologies, we analyse processes of erasure in connection with rhematisation and fractal recursivity to trace the presence of English in marginal sites such as inaugural speeches and informal discussions at these conferences. This study highlights the value of "traces" and "marginal data" for understanding ideological tensions in international language policymaking. It demonstrates that diversification policies were not neutral but functioned as a discursive strategy to manage English-centric multilingualism, reinforcing hierarchies among languages and speakers.
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        Value: 10.1515/multi-2025-0163
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 27
        StartPage: 313
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English (Second Language)
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      – SubjectFull: Language Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Language Usage
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      – SubjectFull: Language Planning
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Policy
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      – SubjectFull: Discourse Analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Multilingualism
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      – SubjectFull: Semiotics
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      – SubjectFull: Official Languages
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      – SubjectFull: Diversity
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      – SubjectFull: Europe
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      – TitleFull: English within Language Diversification Discourses: Tracing Ideologies at European Teaching Conferences in the 1970s and 1980s
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