CONSTITUTIONALIZATION AND LEGALIZATION OF NATIONAL LANGUAGES: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VIETNAM

CONSTITUTIONALIZATION AND LEGALIZATION OF NATIONAL LANGUAGES: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VIETNAM

Vo Thanh Ha* havt@gesd.edu.vn The Vietnam National Institute of Educational Sciences 101 Tran Hung Dao street, Cua Nam ward, Hanoi, Vietnam
Luong Thi Hien luonghien@hnue.edu.vn Hanoi University of Education 136 Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay ward, Hanoi, Vietnam
Doan Thi Thuy Hanh hanhdt@gesd.edu.vn The Vietnam National Institute of Educational Sciences 101 Tran Hung Dao street, Cua Nam ward, Hanoi, Vietnam
Bui Thanh Thuy thuybt@gesd.edu.vn The Vietnam National Institute of Educational Sciences 101 Tran Hung Dao street, Cua Nam ward, Hanoi, Vietnam
Xuan Thi Nguyet Ha xtnha@moet.gov.vn Ministry of Education and Training 35 Dai Co Viet, Bach Mai ward, Hanoi, Vietnam
Summary: 
This paper explores the central role of the constitution and language law in managing national identity, human rights, and national unity. Using a literature review, the study analyzes models of the constitutionalization and legalization of national languages across various countries worldwide. In particular, the article addresses the research gap that Vietnam has constitutionally established Vietnamese as the national language, but the enforcement regulations (legalization) remain fragmented and unsystematic. The f indings propose a flexible institutionalization roadmap: Prioritizing the perfection of by-laws and specialized regulations in the short term, instead of immediately imposing a separate law, to ensure a balance between national unity and linguistic diversity, creating a solid premise for a National Language Law in the long term.
Keywords: 
Constitutionalization
legalization
national language
language policy
by-law document.
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