Global English Key Terms Flashcards
Linguistic Imperialism (emphasized by Robert Phillipson)
Issue: The spread of English can be perceived as a form of linguistic imperialism, where the cultural and linguistic influence of English-speaking nations dominates and marginalizes other languages and cultures.
Ethical Concern: This raises questions about the preservation of linguistic diversity and the potential erosion of minority languages, leading to the loss of cultural heritage and knowledge. For instance, British colonial rule in India led to the promotion of English as the language of administration, education, and governance, while indigenous languages such as Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Urdu were marginalized.
Linguistic Power
Linguistic power refers to the influence, control, or authority wielded by individuals, groups, or institutions through language.
In many societies, proficiency in dominant or prestigious languages such as English, Mandarin, or French is associated with greater access to educational, economic, and employment opportunities.
For instance, individuals who speak English fluently may have an advantage in securing high-paying jobs, participating in international business transactions, and accessing information and resources available in English-speaking contexts.
Language Death
The process by which a language ceases to be spoken and loses its last remaining native speakers, often resulting in the extinction of the language.
The Dalmatian language is an example of an extinct language. Dalmatian was a Romance language spoken in the Dalmatian region of present-day Croatia. It developed from Vulgar Latin and was closely related to the Romance languages of Italy.
Language Revitalisation Efforts
Despite the challenges of language death, efforts to revitalize endangered languages can help preserve linguistic diversity and cultural heritage.
Language revitalization initiatives may involve language documentation, preservation of oral traditions, community language programs, bilingual education, and language policy advocacy.
For example, the Maori language of New Zealand has experienced a revival in recent decades through government support for Maori language education, media representation, and community-driven language revitalization initiatives.
Efforts to promote Ainu language education have expanded in recent years, with initiatives aimed at teaching Ainu language and culture in schools, community centers, and cultural institutions.
Linguistic Complacency
Elimination of the motivation to learn a new language.
Example: English Linguistic Complacency in the United States
In the United States, English is the dominant language, and the majority of the population speaks it as their first language. As a result, there can be a sense of linguistic complacency among monolingual English speakers who may not see the need to learn additional languages or improve their proficiency in English.
Language Shift
It involves a gradual transition from one language to another within a community or population, resulting in the decline or loss of the original language over time.
An example of language shift can be observed in the decline of the Welsh language in Wales and the rise of English as the dominant language. Historically, Welsh was the primary language spoken by the majority of the population in Wales.
Language Suicide
The deliberate abandonment or suppression of a language by its speakers, often as a result of external pressures, social stigma, or assimilation into a dominant linguistic group.
One example of language suicide is the decline of many indigenous languages in the Americas following European colonization. When European settlers arrived in the Americas, they imposed their languages and cultures on indigenous populations, often through coercive means such as forced assimilation, residential schools, and policies that suppressed indigenous languages and cultures. As a result, many indigenous languages faced rapid decline and even extinction, as younger generations were discouraged or forbidden from speaking their ancestral languages and were instead taught European languages such as Spanish, English, or Portuguese.
Hybridisation
The process by which elements from different languages or dialects are combined to create a new linguistic variety or form.
An example of hybridization involves the use of English loanwords in Japanese, particularly in the context of youth culture and informal communication. These loanwords, known as “wasei-eigo” (和製英語) or Japanese-made English, are often adapted to fit Japanese phonology and grammar, and they acquire specific meanings or connotations that may differ from their usage in English-speaking contexts.
Salaryman is a combination of the English word “salary” and the Japanese word “man”. It refers to a white-collar office worker, particularly one who works long hours and is dedicated to their job.
Homogenisation of Culture
The process by which cultural differences between societies, regions, or communities diminish, resulting in greater uniformity or similarity in cultural practices, values, norms, and artifacts.
Pidgin
A grammatically simplified form of a language, typically English, Dutch or Portuguese, some elements of which are taken from local languages, used for communication between people not sharing a common language.
Creole
A mother tongue formed from the contact of a European language (especially English and French) with local languages (especially African languages spoken by slaves in the West Indies).
Acrolect
The variety of speech that is closest to a standard prestige language, especially in an area where a creole is spoken.
Basilect
The variety of speech that is most remote to a standard prestige language, especially in an area where a creole is spoken.
Borrowing
The process of taking a word from another language and inserting it into the lexicon of another.
An early example is assassin (people of principle), which appears in English about 1531 as a loanword from Arabic (assassiyen), probably borrowed during the Crusades. Derivative of their methods to uphold political control.
