Planning for tolerability in New Zealand, Wales and Catalonia

The attitudes and behaviours of majority language speakers have an important impact on minority languages, and it has been claimed that the long-term success of minority language initiatives may only be achievable if some degree of favourable opinion, or ‘tolerability’, of these initiatives is secured among majority language speakers (May 2000a). Once the problem of tolerability has been recognised in a minority language situation, however, how can language planners address it? The literature has tended to concentrate on the theoretical arguments that need to be conveyed to majority language speakers in order to improve the tolerability of minority languages. In contrast there has been little consideration of what practical language policy approaches can be used to ‘plan for tolerability’. An analysis of recent language regeneration policy in New Zealand, Wales and Catalonia reveals that planning for tolerability is in fact currently occurring in all of these language situations. This article examines the various approaches taken, focusing on five features of planning for tolerability: recognising the problem; defining the target audience; developing messages and desired behaviours; selecting policy techniques; and evaluating success. Given this growing policy activity, the article concludes that planning for tolerability deserves more attention from researchers and policymakers than it has received to date.