The Role of English in Implementing the Saudi Vision 2030: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the role of English in implementing the Saudi 2030 Vision (SV2030) programme through an analysis of two texts in the Saudi context: 1) the SV2030 document, an overview of the strategic framework set forth by the Saudi government, and 2) a set of statements about SV2030 from the English language departments of Saudi universities. The SV2030 document does not explicitly mention English language, instead focusing on the need to uphold Arabic language, but some English departments indicate in their departmental statements that they see an important role for English in achieving the aims of SV2030. Therefore, the role of English in attaining SV2030 was investigated in two phases. In phase one, a content analysis was conducted on the relevant textsto identify SV2030 settings in which English can play a role. In phase two, a critical discourse analysis (CDA) was performed to investigate the implicit role of English specifically in the international and educational SV2030 settings identified through the content analysis. Through CDA, an educational function for English in attaining SV2030 was established. Both texts shed light on the knowledge and skills highlighted in the SV2030 and departmental discourses in education and English education, respectively. As such, lowering the age at which primary students begin to study English as a subject to first grade is a socioeconomic development aligned with the objectives of SV2030. English is the global language for SV2030, in which the SV2030 document producer chose English as the language in which the foreign version intended for an international readership would be published. Additionally, the study highlighted the significance of English in the context of international summits and events relevant to SV2030. Finally, the study identified the potential economic role that English may play in the implementation of SV2030 through the cultivation of a knowledge-based economy. As SV2030 is a national programme, the SV2030 document writer may have refrained from promoting English explicitly for national and socio-political purposes. Nevertheless, the findings of this study provide insights into the role of English in achieving SV2030 and the potential implications for language policy in Saudi Arabia.