Language policy mistakes in Singapore: Governance, expertise and the deliberation of language ideologies

Abstract

An admission of a language policy mistake from the Singapore government is a rare occurrence. In recent years, there have been two such admissions. This paper discusses these policy mistakes, and focuses on the contributions that language experts might be able to make to the process of policy construction. It is argued that language experts should not be restricted in their ability to contribute to the process of policy formulation, particularly if deeply entrenched ideologies about language are to be subjected to careful scrutiny. The paper concludes by considering deliberative polls, which provide one practical design where experts and non-experts can engage in an informed discussion about specific policy recommendations. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.