Multilingualism as Problem or Resource? Negotiating Space for Languages Other than Swedish and English in University Language Planning

In the Nordic countries, university language policy and planning centres on balancing the use of the national language(s) vis-à-vis English, whereas less attention has been paid to the roles played by other languages. This study focuses on how space was negotiated for languages other than Swedish and English during language policy negotiations at a Swedish university. Using an ethnographic discourse analytic approach and applying an orientations to language framework, analysis reveals what languages are brought in to the negotiations to play a role in the University’s language practices and how. The analysis further reveals that languages are variously positioned as problem or resource and that the problem and resource orientations are co-present in policy negotiations.