Isn t Language Policy Ineffective in Changing Language Behavior?
No. Why otherwise would so many countries dedicate so many resources to it? Israel for example developed the modern version of Hebrew which had been essentially extinct, but the government resurrected it in a short period of time. To take an example on an even larger scale, the Chinese government established one dialect (or language) as its official national (spoken) variety, and though formerly peoples in communities nearby could not understand one another, through the implementation of instruction in the national standard, intercommunication became more possible. Clearly, policy does Influence language behavior. Of course, it will take some time for such a language to take root, but if many countries agree to it, this will be easier to do. It is just like the other international achievements and institutions which have been brought about with a great deal of effort. For those who would say that the above countries shared common cultures and aims, etc. and thus could not be achieved i
