Linguistic Imperialism
Millions of people in the developing world speak native languages that are very different from English. Because of the monolingual emphasis with which English is taught, it tends to not only downgrade the mother tongues of learners, but of tragically undervaluing the rich multilingualism which is typical of most of the developing world.
Linguicism, in regards to the role language plays in the lives and people of developing countries, is as important to fight against as racism here in the US. Linguistic imperialism rests on the well-established thesis that colonialism has not come to an end but is today largely prosecuted by non-military means.
Sir Anthony Parsons, former Foregin Policy adviser to Margaret Thatcher, stated this policy without diguise and was quoted by the British Council:
“It is really dazzlingly obvious. If you are thoroughly familiar with someone else’s language and literature, if you know and love the country, the arts, the people, you will be instictively disposed to buy goods from them rather than a less well-known source, to support them actively when you consider them to be right and to avoid criticizing them too fiercely when you regard them as being in the wrong.”
Valuing the diversity of world languages from cultures which should be heard, read about and understood starts with giving their language the necessary resources to be developed. Educationists should realize that culture and structure (through language) are indissoluable and we have a moral duty to re-think what the roots of language bring to our ability to learn and share more with people in the developing world.
admin @ December 17, 2007