Volume: 8  Number: 2&3  Page: 145–159

Heritage Languages at Upper Secondary Level in South Australia: A Struggle for Legitimacy

Antonio Mercurio1 and Angela Scarino2 1Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia, Wayville, South Australia, Australia and 2School of International Studies, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

This paper describes how more than 40 languages gained and retained legitimacy as subjects for graduation from upper secondary schooling and for tertiary entrance selection in the South Australian educational system. Essentially the process required conforming with administrative, curriculum and community structures and fitting the mould of evolving language policies and generic frameworks. While the success of language communities in achieving this status is recognised, questions remain about overall uptake of languages and the fundamental rationale for maintenance.

Keywords: Australia, community, heritage, languages, policy, upper secondary

© 2005 A. Mercurio & A. Scarino

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