Thesis
Language Sustainability Strategies in Multilingual Societies A Comparative Analysis of Dzongkha National Language of Bhuta
Masters by Coursework, Murdoch University
2026
Abstract
The accelerating pace of language loss poses grave ecological stakes as cultural diversity often mirrors and contributes to ecological diversity. This study compares two distinct multilingual countries, Bhutan and Taiwan, to examine language sustainability strategies. It looks at how ideology, practice, and management affect language sustainability by using Spolsky’s (2004, 2019) language policy framework and ecolinguistics theory. It examines government documents, educational materials, and legislative records as primary sources. The study analyses how these elements work differently in Bhutan and Taiwan.
Guided by Creswell and Poth’s (2018) qualitative inquiry framework, this study finds that Taiwan’s integrated approach, anchored in strong legislation, robust resource allocation, and strong community involvement, produces more language preservation outcomes than Bhutan’s primarily symbolic and education-focused approach. Thus, the findings of the study demonstrate that successful language sustainability depends not only on policy statements, but it also depends on the support of beliefs, management strategies, and community-led initiatives supported by adequate resources and systematic evaluation.
This study offers practical effectiveness of language policies and at the same time, it acknowledges limitations of potential bias in official documents and also the challenges of capturing cultural nuances across contexts. By comparing two distinct yet instructive cases, the study helps fill gaps in the field of Asian language policy studies and provides evidence-based insights for multilingual societies seeking to preserve their linguistic diversity.
Details
- Title
- Language Sustainability Strategies in Multilingual Societies A Comparative Analysis of Dzongkha National Language of Bhuta
- Authors/Creators
- Yumkee Lhamo Lhamo
- Contributors
- Annette Watkins (Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Masters by Coursework
- Identifiers
- 991005891649807891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Resource Type
- Thesis
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