EASY, CLEAR, OR COMPREHENSIBLE? A Comparative Study on Language Laws in Sweden and Russia

Abstract

Language policy is a widening field of research in sociolinguistics. This thesis approaches language policies from a comparative perspective, examining Swedish and Russian language laws. Through a framework for classifying language planning goals, the laws are subjected to close reading to reveal their implicit and explicit language planning goals. Special attention is paid to the concept of plain language as a mode of public communication. The results show that Swedish language laws tend to protect the right of the speakers, while Russian laws are more often concerned with protecting the Russian language. Plain language is an important part of public communication in Sweden, even though very little attention is paid to it in language laws. In Russia, plain language is still in development and is not mentioned at all in the laws. This thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of language planning and language laws in two different countries.