A STUDY OF JAPANESE LANGUAGE PLANNING AND LINGUISTIC EXPECTATIONS TOWARDS IMMIGRANTS WITH PERSPECTIVES TO SWEDEN

Abstract

This thesis aims to examine Japan’s language planning and language ideologies toward immigrants, while analyzing the linguistic expectations placed on immigrants. As a point of comparison, the essay takes the case of Sweden, which adopts a contrasting approach to immigrant language policy, in order to relativize and contextualize Japan’s stance. This essay employs an extensive review of relevant literature and a detailed analysis of language proficiency tests in both Japan and Sweden. The findings show that Japan's immigrant language policy perceives linguistic diversity as a threat to the dominant monolingual ideology. Consequently, such diversity is viewed as a problem, resulting in an imbalance between Japanese language education and heritage language education, and placing assimilative expectations on immigrants. Moreover, analysis of the language proficiency tests reveals that Japanese language education strongly reflects the social norms, suggesting an expectation for immigrants to conform to local societal standards. This tendency is highlighted in contrast to Sweden, which adopts a more pluralistic language ideology. In conclusion, a shift away from monolingual ideology and assimilationist expectations may be achieved through the top-down process of language policies grounded in views of language both as a right and as a resource.