Papers by Basanta Kandel, PhD
Journal of NELTA, 2021
This article explores the language policy in education (henceforth, LPE) at the local level. Adop... more This article explores the language policy in education (henceforth, LPE) at the local level. Adopting the critical ethnography study for 6 months at Vyas Municipality, I reveal what ideological awareness the policymakers and arbiters have on LPE and how do they interpret and appropriate it in multilingual school setting. The information collected through in-depth interviews, FGD, participant observation, and document reviews have been analyzed, interpreted, and triangulated critically. The study shows three major fi ndings regarding LPE in local government; fi rst, LPE has created a public debate and ideological discrepancy in multilingual school contexts; the second, the local LPE has diverse interpretation, appropriation, and practices; and the last, the English language policy (ELP) appears as a 'black hole', which has been gradually swallowing other local and indigenous languages. However, the language policymakers and arbiters have been gradually raising critical awareness for appropriate LPE and its practices that seems a positive advancement at the local level.
Journal of NELTA Gandaki
Diversity in the linguistic landscape is a common phenomenon in multilingual country Nepal. We o... more Diversity in the linguistic landscape is a common phenomenon in multilingual country Nepal. We observe varied textual forms of language and signs in public spaces and spheres that surround us. Therefore, this study concerns to analyze the signs in linguistic landscapes in multilingual urban settings in Nepal. It reveals the status of different languages, deals with issues related to multilingualism, language policy, linguistic diversity, minority languages, hierarchies, and users. Besides, it observes intricacies of language contact and choice, power and status of language groups, and sociolinguistic situation. For this, observation and interpretative method of qualitative research were employed, 150 photographs were purposively snapped from five urban spaces in two month time. The signs were analyzed, compared and contrasted using a thematic approach with relevant theoretical backup. The finding revealed that the choice of language on signs bases on sign writer’s skill, presumed r...
The Journal of NELTA Gandaki, 2021
In Nepal, the Constitution of Nepal 2015 has abolished the centralized ruling system and establis... more In Nepal, the Constitution of Nepal 2015 has abolished the centralized ruling system and established federalism which has opened up new insights into language policy issues. The Constitution empowers local government for language policy and planning, protection, promotion and use of languages, and scripts. Applying the ethnographic observation of the qualitative method, this study explores the awareness and initiatives of Nepali policymakers and language policy arbiters for the creation of language policy in local governments. Using purposive sampling, the study situates in two local governments of Gandaki Province, Nepal. The information collected through unstructured interviews, ethnographic observation, and informal interaction with language policymakers and arbiters has been analyzed and interpreted employing multiple methods. The findings show that local policy makers and actors impose multiple ideologies, therefore, language policy has become a contested issue and created a new public debate in the changing political-social and multilingual context of Nepal. Gradually, there is an increasing awareness on creating language policy, and constructive initiatives have taken for preservation and promotion of languages which is a positive way forward in the local governments by policymakers and arbiters.
Marsyangdi Journal , 2020
This paper intends to compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research in brief. Based ... more This paper intends to compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research in brief. Based on library sources, the paper is prepared for the Bachelor and Master level research students plus interested one. The article initiated with the concept of research and its major purposes, and then associates the general information about qualitative, quantitative and mixed method research. Finally, it illustrates the relative and discrepancy between qualitative and quantitative research with a few concluding note.
Journal of NELTA Gandaki (JoNG), 2019
Diversity in the linguistic landscape is a common phenomenon in multilingual country Nepal. We ob... more Diversity in the linguistic landscape is a common phenomenon in multilingual country Nepal. We observe varied textual forms of language and signs in public spaces and spheres that surround us. Therefore, this study concerns to analyze the signs in linguistic landscapes in multilingual urban settings in Nepal. It reveals the status of different languages, deals with issues related to multilingualism, language policy, linguistic diversity, minority languages, hierarchies, and users. Besides, it observes intricacies of language contact and choice, power and status of language groups, and sociolinguistic situation. For this, observation and interpretative method of qualitative research were employed, 150 photographs were purposively snapped from five urban spaces in two month time. The signs were analyzed, compared and contrasted using a thematic approach with relevant theoretical backup. The finding revealed that the choice of language on signs bases on sign writer's skill, presumed reader and symbolic value (Spolsky & Cooper, 1991). The study explored that the majority of urban linguistic landscapes are occupied by English signs, and English imperialism is a greater challenge for Nepali and vernacular languages. It is inferred that diversity in linguistic landscapes is the concrete manifestation of multilingual society where languages battle for their existence; therefore, the multilingual policy is the stipulation of the day.
The Journal of Aadikavi, 2019
Globalization has become worldwide in scope which ultimately converts a huge globe into a small g... more Globalization has become worldwide in scope which ultimately converts a huge globe into a small global village. Nepal, a multilingual , multi-cultural and multi-ethnic country, has been influencing with the flow, network, and interconnection of globalization, since the 18th century. As a theoretical article based on qualitative research design, this paper aims to unravel the components of globalization and its impacts on English language, education system and language policy in Nepal in an analytical and interpretative way that is supported by experts theories. Further, the article has attempted to raise the issues of the colonization and spread of English, use of English in Nepal, its impacts on language policy, and challenges upon vernacular languages from past to the present. Finally, the article explores that Nepal is profoundly influenced by globalization; its impact is seen on English language, education system, language policy and life style of the entire citizen which pressurizes towards Westernization. Introduction Globalization refers to the flow of trade and capital, dissemination of ideology, the growing integration of economies and societies around the world through free movements of goods, services, people, and information across boundaries. Globalization, a complex process of increasing interdependence, integration, and interaction among individuals, societies, cultures, and institutions around the world in the spheres of economy, culture, knowledge, technology, and politics (Pannilage, 2016). Due to globalization the world is getting closer to us as people around the world have been more and more interconnected through the exchange of goods, services, means of production (labor, capital), information, knowledge, culture and other forms of interaction (Manandhar, 2016). Appadurai (1990) has famously described globalization as a 'complex overlapping and disjunctive order' made up of five different types of forces and flows which he calls 'scapes'. Ethnoscapes-flows of people, technoscapes-flows of technology, financscapes-flows of money, mediascapes-flows of information, and ideoscapes-flows of ideas and discourses. The movement of people, technology, funds, media, and ideas exists in varying and colliding forms. Globalization is universal phenomenon, demand and necessities of the present world, as a result, the world has become as a global village. In this circumstance, the south Asian country Nepal, located on the lap of Himalayas is also heavily influenced with this flow, network and interconnection of globalization which has mass impacts in all the areas. Specifically, the globalization has brought genuine changes and reforms in the education system, English language, and language policy sector in Nepal. Nepali education system have been under the influence of globalization since two century and pressurized to produce human resources for global competition. Nepali education system and process has been informed by national and international norms and standard, learner centered pedagogy, information and communication technology because of the flood of globalization. The form, size, content and context of Nepali education have been customized, the aims and objectives are reshaped and modified, methods and technologies are adopted with respect to globalization concept. Due to the influence of globalization and colonization, the education system in Nepal has been influencing since the Rana Regime to Federalism.
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Papers by Basanta Kandel, PhD