The language policies of ethnic autonomous regions

Official language recognition and language of education are often contentious in plural societies. Ethnic regional autonomy (ERA) enables local language policies. We examine official language status, language of instruction and compulsory language learning in 135 ERAs in 31 countries. We find titular ethnic languages are more likely to have official status in regions with larger titular ethnic populations. Titular ethnic languages are more likely to be used for instruction in democracies; regional institutions do not influence language policy. Results highlight the importance of local demographics and country institutional context and have implications for language practices and preservation in plural societies.