Extending Spolsky’s Language Policy through Arabic Language Symbolization in a Pesantren-Based Islamic University

Abstract

This study aims to extend Spolsky’s language policy model by developing the concept of Arabic language symbolization at University of Darussalam Gontor, a prominent pesantren-based Islamic university in Indonesia. Spolsky conceptualizes language policy as an interaction among language practices, beliefs, and management. However, the findings of this study demonstrate that within the context of religious higher education, Arabic also functions as an ideological symbol and a marker of institutional identity that is not fully captured by the existing model. This research employs a qualitative approach using a case study design. Data were collected through analysis of language policy and curriculum documents, observations of the academic-pesantren environment, and in-depth interviews with five key informants: a Vice Rector, the Director of Language Development, the Head of the Arabic Language Education Program at the undergraduate and master’s levels, and students. The findings reveal that Arabic functions both as an academic medium and as a symbol of institutional identity and scholarly legitimacy. Rooted in the slogan al-lughah tāj al-ma‘had, the understanding of Arabic as the language of the Qur’an, and the Trimurti’s waqf mandate, Arabic language symbolization shapes collective beliefs, normalizes Arabic language practices, and is institutionalized through faculty recruitment and student selection policies based on language competence. These findings confirm that language symbolization serves as the foundation of language policy, simultaneously driving practices, beliefs, and management. This study proposes an Extended Spolsky Model that is more contextual and relevant for analyzing language policy across diverse educational institutions.