ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the language situation in a number of countries that officially recognize themselves as multilingual states. Many of these countries are situated outside the Western world, though there are a few exceptions. Indeed, most European Union (EU) member-states officially recognize only one language, which is often directly linked to national identity. The chapter discusses such shifts which have recently affected the language policy balance within officially multilingual states. In particular, the chapter focuses on how the global spread of English has upset the traditional language policy balance in a number of states. The chapter discusses the language situation in Switzerland, the changing roles of Singlish and Mandarin Chinese in Singapore, as well as the postcolonial role of English in Hong Kong and China, South Africa and Nigeria. It describes briefly on shifting patterns of bilingualism in Ukraine. Ukraine has recently adopted a policy of de-Russification, thus turning the country into a more and more monolingual, Ukrainian-only space.
