Mar 21 • 10:08 UTC 🇱🇹 Lithuania Lrytas

Linguist I. Smetonienė on Lithuania's language policy: if I had to give a grade, I would assign an 8

I. Smetonienė, a linguist, assesses Lithuania's language policy positively, suggesting an average grade of 8 based on public language use.

In a recent podcast with politika.lt, linguist I. Smetonienė provided an assessment of the current state of Lithuania's language policy, stating that she would assign it a grade of 8. She expressed confidence that the general public does not speak incorrectly; however, she acknowledged there are variations in people's language proficiency. Her evaluation suggests that while some individuals strive to use the language correctly, others may disregard standard rules, contributing to a complex language landscape in Lithuania.

Smetonienė noted that there are certainly individuals who speak correctly and others who do not pay attention to their language use, indicating a blend of language competency across the population. She emphasizes the importance of adhering to certain language standards, suggesting that while there will never be a 'superstandard' for language use, basic rules are necessary to maintain clarity and order in public speech. Moreover, she advocated for a public discourse that aligns more closely with standard linguistic forms to enhance communication quality among speakers.

Drawing from her experience leading the Lithuanian Language Commission, Smetonienė reflects on the significant connection between language management and governance, highlighting that those who control language can also influence state affairs. This points to a broader cultural and political implication of language policy in fostering national identity and cohesion, suggesting that the stewardship of language is vital to the country's integrity.

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