This paper examines the implications of John Rawls’ political liberalism for linguistic diversity and language policy, by centering on the following question: what kind(s) of equality between speakers of distinct languages and with distinct linguistic identities should the state guarantee under political liberalism? The paper makes three assertions. First, language policy under political liberalism should warrant the equal basic rights and liberties of all citizens, regardless of language(s) spoken. This may demand positive forms of state intervention, like the provision of interpreters and translators in courts of law or hospitals. Second, while acceptable under political liberalism, symbolic recognition by the state of all languages is not postulated, because the notion of self-respect does not implicate the skill to identify with the institutions of one’s own political community. Lastly, while neither the protection of citizens’ basic rights and liberties, nor the guarantee of their self-respect, requires multilingual policies, the latter may be demanded under political liberalism by the principle of fair equality of chance. This last step includes recourse to democratic deliberation in order to establish people’s linguistic identities, the costs they associate with the enjoyment of available chances and their ensuing demands with regard to language policy.