Resumen de Language planning and image building: the case of Malay in Malaysia

Haji Omar Asmah

• Language Status, corpus, and acquisition planning in the development of the national language do not always offer prestige to the language concerned. Image building is another dimension that should be added to the development ofthe national language, and it involves the ability to overcome the various challenges beyond that of building an identity and the allocation of language use by fiat. It involves the building of image repertoires, consisting ofscientific image, Professional image, image ofhigh culture and refined social interaction, etc.

  This article argues that language planning is not restricted to the building ofan identity but also has to concern itselfwith giving a good image, which is a necessary ingredient in the building of the confidence of its users.