‘Meaningful engagement’: Towards a language rights paradigm for effective language policy implementation

Abstract

This article aims to develop the concept of ‘meaningful engagement’ in terms of the contemporary language policy implementation framework in South Africa. By exploring the current language policies, implementation and the current lack of effectiveness, the authors offer a new implementation focus drawn from the legal concept of ‘meaningful engagement’. ‘Meaningful engagement’ is a concept within the socio-economic rights sphere. This article expands and advances the concept within a language policy framework. Against the enabling legislative environment created by the Use of Official Languages Act 12 of 2012 and the overarching Constitutional framework which embeds the rights of all official languages, ‘meaningful engagement’ is developed and applied to selected language policies and practices. The authors propose the application of ‘meaningful engagement’ as a viable and more coherent tool for enhancing the effectiveness of language policy implementation and advancing language practices within relevant domains across the socio-economic landscape in South Africa.