This course aims to introduce students to the main issues involved in language planning and language policy. It will look at such issues as: How and why languages are chosen as official languages and what this means politically in a society; How languages are developed to fulfil new functions and express new ideologies; How language education policy can affect members of a society; How societies treat indigenous languages; Language spread and linguistics imperialism; Language rights. Emphasis will be given to language planning and policy development in Australia, but the course will also examine language planning in other parts of the world.

Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but may expect more rigorous assessment and additional assignment work, tailored to the student's interests.