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Abstract:

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a comprehensive regional cooperation organization is committed to building cooperation. This article provides an overview of the mechanisms by which the social function of language operates in a supranational context, revealing the nature of the relationship between the official working language and the language of education in international organizations represented by the SCO. The SCO is an important platform for China’s participation in regional and global governance. As a comprehensive regional cooperation organization committed to building a closer community, the SCO is of great relevance in addressing the growing number of common global challenges and upholding multilateralism and international rules. This study provides an in-depth interpretation of the working and educational languages of the SCO, observes the status of language education in SCO universities. The article reveals the policy practices of the SCO in dealing with real-life language issues, and analyzes the motivations affecting the language policy of the SCO. It is expected that this study will provide a realistic basis and policy reference for China’s orientation toward the language issues of the SCO.

Keywords: motivation, official language, working language, language of education, SCO.