Persian Language In A Globalized World: Some Remarks on National Language Planning

Among different issues related to language policy and planning, it seems that interaction between Persian and world languages (especially English) is an important challenge. As a matter of fact, the lingual aspect of globalization has been defined as turning of English to the lingua franca of the international community. As a result of such a process, dynamics of the relationship between Persian and English has become an important issue of contemplation. We have to formulate realistic policies to plan this relationship. But there are beliefs that are serious obstacles in the way of such realistic policy – making. One of them is the illusionary goal of "pure language" and futile efforts for purifying Persian from all foreign words. A goal which is not followed by laymen Persian speakers, linguists and sociologists of culture. Of course, coining Persian equivalents for foreign words is necessary in many conditions, but purists lack an objective approach and their efforts are not for strengthening language as a means of communication. Instead they follow the goal of purification of a language which is both wrong and impossible. This article suggests a policy package for regulating the relationship between Persian and world languages. Some of the principles of the policy package are as follows: 1-The principle of symbiotic coexistence which among others includes standardization of loan-exchange by establishing rules for borrowing words from other languages, and therefore legitimizing the everyday process of loanexchange between languages, and bringing the process under some control. 2-The principle of division of labour among World Language (used for communicating with other nations), National Language (used for communication within the nation), and Ethnic Language (used for communication within an ethnic group). 3- The principle of distinguishing between transcription and language. This is very important for both standardization of Persian within the country and teaching Persian to foreigners