Detecting Nepal’s position in the global context of language planning and policy

Worldwide language planning and policy (LPP) research has demonstrated a paradigm shift from a traditional approach to the ethnography of LPP. The traditional approach acknowledges the LPP as a formally authorized document, while the ethnography of the LPP underscores manifold conceptualizations, including documented or undocumented de facto policy. The research priority has also changed from midterm evaluation to multilayered analysis of policy processes. The Nepalese literature shows that a considerable number of LPP studies have been conducted in Nepal. However, there is a dearth of research that provides a clear understanding of the historical route and current status of Nepalese LPP research in the global LPP landscape. Detecting positions in LPP research is crucial for effective practices and recognizing the role of actors in policy processes. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the current position of Nepal in terms of global trends in LPP research. Through a comprehensive review of the international trajectory of LPP research, along with an examination of its trends and a detailed exploration of the Nepalese LPP, this study attempted to achieve this objective. The study shows that Nepal’s LPP is rooted in traditional conceptualizations, diverging from the evolving global understanding of the LPP. It has predominantly been roaming corpus-status planning along with a recent surge, albeit within limited numbers, in adopting critical and ethnographic perspectives. Its implication lies in the necessity of aligning the Nepalese LPP with the changing global emerging LPP landscape to contribute to more informed LPP development in Nepal.