Language Policy in Multilingual Countries: Between Consolidating National Identity and Achieving Social Integration

This article addresses the issue of language policy in multilingual countries, highlighting the tension between preserving linguistic identity on one hand, and achieving national integration and development requirements on the other. The article presents the theoretical frameworks of language policy through the concepts of language planning and the functions of language in building the modern state. It also discusses comparative experiences from Canada, India, and Switzerland, highlighting different models of managing multilingualism, their successes, and challenges. The article concludes that effective language policies are those built on participatory foundations; consider linguistic justice, without neglecting the need for a unifying language capable of supporting social cohesion.