Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development
Editor and Book Reviews Editor: John Edwards (St Francis Xavier University, Canada)
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Volume: 21 Number: 4 Page: 269–291
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Supping With the Dismal Scientists: Practical Interdisciplinarity in Language Education and Development Economics
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Paul Bruthiaux
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For the many living in destitution throughout the developing world, the concept of economic development makes little sense unless it brings tangible improvements in basic living standards. It is generally
agreed that a key ingredient in creating favourable conditions for this development is language education and especially literacy. Thus language education and development economics should form natural academic
bedfellows. Yet, a survey of recent research in language education shows that little attention is currently given to the economic constraints within which language education efforts should be framed. The
paper explores some historical and intellectual causes for this lack of interdisciplinarity. It stresses the importance of universals of economic development and identifies trust in the ability of the intended
beneficiaries of development policies to make appropriate choices as a key factor in implementing these policies. It reviews three development settings in Bangladesh, Egypt, and Latin Americathat illustrate
the need to devolve responsibility for development to the beneficiaries themselves, especially women. It notes that language education and especially basic literacy in local languages play an important role in this
process and stresses that this type of language education should be differentiated from often unfocused, yet resource-costly efforts to promote English instead.
© Multilingual Matters 2000
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