The Concept of Language Planning in Arabic Linguistics and Western Linguistics: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This article examines the problematic nature of the term language planning within the field of sociolinguistics by tracing its terminological and conceptual status in both Western and Arab linguistic studies. The study starts from the premise that the development of linguistic research concerned with the relationship between language and society has generated a number of new terms. However, the relative novelty of these concepts has led to a degree of ambiguity and overlap in defining their meanings, among which the term language planning stands out as particularly significant.

The study adopts a comparative approach to trace the emergence of the term in Western linguistics since its introduction by Einar Haugen, and to examine the evolution of its definitions, which have ranged from focusing on the codification of language and the development of its internal structure to the management of its social functions and the implementation of language policies. The article also explores the transfer of the term into Arabic linguistics through translation, where it has gained wide agreement in terminology among scholars, although its conceptual definition remains subject to variation and debate.

The study concludes that language planning refers to a set of practical procedures aimed at implementing language policy and organizing linguistic situations within society. It also emphasizes the need to maintain a clear conceptual distinction between language planning and language policy in order to avoid terminological confusion in linguistic research.