Lietuvių kalbos politika Europos kalbų kontekste
The Lithuanian language policy in the European context

Summary/Abstract: Since the time when there was a discussion started over a choice of the state language, it has become part of national politics. The first steps were taken by Spaniards in the 15th century. The standardization of their language was also discussed in other states of Europe. At the end of the century, as a result of language standardization by academies, commissions and individuals, the new languages of Europe were one after another given the status of state languages. In the 20th century, many states started direct regulation of their languages. Therefore, one or another language variety had to be chosen as a state language or a special status had to be given to one or more well-established languages. From outside, the situation of the Lithuanian language looks fairly good: Clause 14 of the Lithuanian Constitution romulgates the Lithuanian language as a state language, the Law on the State Language is in force, the Guidelines of the State Language Policy for the years 2004-2008 and a plan of their implementation have been approved. To standardize the Lithuanian language, there was a Commission of the State Language set up. The functions of the language status and public language control are performed by the State Language Inspection and municipal language managers. There is also research done into the language at the Lithuanian Language Institute and departments of Lithuanian of higher education institutions of Lithuania. Fundamental research publications, standard language and term dictionaries, practical language guidebooks are issued. However, the Law on the State Language does not cover all areas of language use regulated by the state, it does not regulate such important areas as the language of advertising; there are not regulations promoting the usage of the Lithuanian language in information technologies; the right of researchers to write and publish their research results in Lithuanian is not guaranteed; customers' right to information on the imported goods in the state language is not ensured etc. The basis for implementing the language policy is language planning, including the language status (setting up and developing the legal basis for the language use), system and usage as well as language teaching.

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