Raveeha Rabbani - Week 9 - Globalization of the English Language
Our planet is extremely diverse. This is true both in regards to the thousands of cultures that it houses, as well as its phenomenally unique geography. With the many types of societies and ethnicities that exist today, come a plethora of distinctive methods of communications and different languages. According to the Linguistic Society of America, more than 7,000 languages are currently spoken all over the world. However, even with such variety as its competition, one language in particular has managed to champion all the other ones. This language is globally spoken, taught, and learned and it arguably has the most amount of influence in regards to one's social, racial, and economic status.
English is the language that holds the most power in any given country in the world, even the ones whose first language is not English. As someone who has lived in a so-called "third world country" for more than half of her life, I can confirm that one of the easiest and most common ways people assert social power over one another is through the use of the English language. This is even true for America.
For example, in Pakistan English is commonly taught in every school and has now become a necessity for everyone to learn due to the globalization of business, education, and social interactions. Even though the country's first language is Urdu, it has become a norm there to only converse in English in professional settings. There is a stereotype that if you are more fluent in English, then you are more intelligent, and somehow more respectable. The downside to this rapid spread of English in the eastern hemisphere of our Earth is that people who do not have access to adequate financial or social resources and opportunities do not have a level playing field. This means that they have not been able to learn English and, even though they might be the smartest ones in the room, people in positions of power will not even think to consider them for new opportunities or ventures.
I know a woman who lives in Pakistan who is trying her best to financially support herself and her son but she is unable to because most offices will not even offer her an entry level job that requires minimal use of English, all because she is not as fluent as others in the workplace are. However, I do know that this woman is intelligent and talented, and can work in areas which do not require the use of English, such as being an elementary school art teacher or an Urdu teacher. The truth is that she and millions of people like her are not denied jobs due to their lack of familiarity with the English language, but they are rejected because the people who have the power believe that if somebody does not speak English, they are inherently "lower" than others who do speak the language. This is an extremely toxic and medieval way of thinking that needs to change if any country wants to thrive.
The same phenomenon can be spotted in America as well. White supremacists can often be found telling immigrants to go back to their country, and this is because of blatant racism and superiority complex. My parents' generation of immigrants sometimes does struggle with speaking English, and this means that in public places they are met with judgmental looks, condescending and unnecessary comments, and racist attitudes. All this just because their accents are a bit different than what is considered "normal" by standards of a White person who was born in The States and has lived here their whole life.
The interesting thing is though, that many of these immigrant families often speak more than two or three languages fluently and most of the times are the ones involved in some of the most mentally taxing and demanding fields such as STEM. Regardless, just because they are not fluent in English, they are looked down upon and racially profiled.
All of this clearly shows the power that the English language holds in today's modern and rapidly evolving metropolis of a universe. This influence can be a good and bad thing at the same time, it just depends how a society works towards promoting acceptance of different cultural or social backgrounds.
Hi Raveeha! I agree, the prioritization of English in professional settings and the assumption that those who cannot speak English are uneducated echoes the racist attitudes of the colonizers that brought English to these countries around the world. Today's mix of xenophobia, white supremacy, and imperialism has resulted in this atmosphere where English is seen as the language of the learned. English has evolved through history fluctuating between being the language of the common people and the language of the learned; the conquest of England resulted in English becoming the language of commoners while the spread of Christianity returned English to its status as the language of the learned. Additionally, the globalization of English over other languages (when, linguistically, English is really just an amalgamation of many languages) is detrimental to retaining the unique culture of countries such as Pakistan and much of the Middle East, countries that are still experiencing the effects of or recovering from colonialism.
ReplyDeleteHello Raveeha! Your insightful reflection on the influence of the English language in various societal contexts is thought-provoking and eloquently presented. Your personal experiences in a "third world country" and the challenges individuals face due to linguistic biases highlight the broader issues surrounding language and power dynamics. Your call for a change in the perception of language proficiency resonates, urging societies to embrace diversity and move away from outdated notions. Thank you for sharing your perspective and contributing to the conversation on the complexities of language in our interconnected world.
ReplyDeleteHello Raveeha, it is very insightful how English has transformed the world we live in. I remember going back to china and visiting a school for a bit. All the students knew a little bit of English and even idolized the language and the culture around it. Over social media, I see that so many Americans and over english speaking people could go to many different countries around the world and just get by with English. Even in places that do not speak English, they still often have English translations on signs and labels. Like how it gives Americans the upper hand to know other languages to expand your opuntunities, it is the same for people in other countries with English. My cousin in China learned English and he was able to become an international trade guy, and meet all sorts of people just because of his fluenence in English.
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