This article begins with a coherent argument regarding the very different ways that academic educators, government officials, business people and the larger public talk about the issue of world language study. Phillips describes the ways the National Standards project (1996/2000) created consensus among many constituencies, in part because the language of the Standards was designed to communicate with a larger audience. She concludes with a note that pragmatic concerns, such as national security, should not drive language education policy.#Proficiency #All #All #Standards #Substantialmention #PolicyorAdministrative #JournalArticle #Curriculum