Language Shifts in Case of Language Policy of Kazakhstan

Abstract

This paper contains the description and analysis of some aspects of language policy in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The description of the main trends of national programmes of functioning and development of all languages spoken in Kazakhstan. The attention is paid to the practice of non-stop language education that should ensure the high level of official language awareness by every citizen of the Republic and preservation of all the linguistic richness of Kazakhstani society. The regulations of the Language Act where the guarantee of protection and state support of all the languages spoken in the Republic are depicted in details in order to preserve the various ethnic cultures and languages within the territory, including the English. The descriptive characteristics of of language vitality of nations oft he country gives the opportunity to present the significance and importance of any language of Kazakhstani society. At the present the general conceptual basis oft he lanuage development in Kazakhstan is «National Programme of Language Functioning and Development: 2011-2020» [1], which is considered to be realized within 10 years. The main purpose oft he give programme is to extend and strengthen the social-communicative functions of the official language of the Republic, to preserve the general cultural functions of the Russian language, to develop the other languages spoken in Kazakhstan, to facilitate in the development of the English and other foreign languages. The cultural project of the country about language trinity is the new branch in language policy and finds the functional reflection in national standards of education of the country. Language education concepts reflect the world experience in the context of education, i.e. the acception of the unique national standardization on level structures and subject contents – 6 levels of language awareness (Kazakh, Russian and foreign language) taking into account «General European Standards of Language Competence». In conclusion of the paper the results of the analysis of some aspects of language policy and national programme planning are presented.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n8p653