Linguistic protectionism

Linguistic protectionism is any state policy introduced to protect a given language from the expansion of a "stronger" language (usually a language with a greater number of speakers).  The expansion of the "stronger" language may take two forms: (1) people switching to the "stronger" language and (2) people using words from the "stronger" language in the context of the "weaker" one (i.e. using loanwords excessively).  The opposition to the latter form of language expansion is known as purism.

Possible forms of linguistic protectionism are (from milder to harsher):

• providing subsidies for learning the "weaker" language and for publishing and broadcasting in it
• making the "weaker" language an obligatory school subject
• requiring that all state employees have a degree of proficiency in the "weaker" language
• requiring that all education is in the "weaker" language
• forbidding the use of the "stronger" language in some or all spheres

See also

linguistic Darwinism, linguistic imperialism, official language