Linguistic Imperialism

Impacts of global language dominance

Linguistic Imperialism:

The transfer of a dominant language

(and aspects of its culture) to speakers
of other languages.
Definition reference: Gerald Knowles,
Encyclopdia Britannica.

Photo: Public domain

Linguistic Imperialism:
Assumes the active promotion of the language by the
dominant class as an active expression of power of the
powerful over the powerless.
(Robert Phillipson, 1992)

Notions of imperialism understate agency,

rendering participants cultural dupes or
passive puppets of an ideological order, or
cogs in a mechanistic universe.
(Talbot, Atkinson, & Atkinson, 2003:273)
References: Robert Phillipson, Linguistic Imperialism (1992); Henry Widdowson (1998a), p. 398. EIL: squaring the Circles.
A Reply. World Englishes 17/3 397-401. Talbot, Atkinson, & Atkinson, 2003:273

Different views of the source of Linguistic Imperialism

It may take a militarily
powerful nation to
establish a language, but
it takes an economically
powerful one to maintain
it and expand it

David Crystal (1997:1)

Linguistic Imperialism is
a sub-type of Cultural
Imperialism. Linguistic
Imperialism permeates
all the other types of
imperialism, since
language is the means
used to mediate and
express them
Robert Phillipson
(1992, 65)

A good command of the English language is required for

this role

How good is your

English?

Lady, you need

to get your
English right

Do you speak
English?

Speak English!

We speak English
here

You get
points for
good English

You cant even

speak English
properly!

I have a problem with your

accent

English is the
language of
international air
control

of academic
journals are first
published in
English
85 % of global
international
organisations use
English as an
official language
1/3 of
newspapers are
published in
countries where
English has
special status

Statistics: David Crystal (2003) English as a Global Language.

Historical examples of active Linguistic Imperialism

exercised by Conquerors/Oppressors

FRENCH over
ENGLISH following
the French invasion
of England in 1066

JAPANESE over
KOREAN following
the annexation of
Korea by Japan in
the early 20th
Century

RUSSIAN over
UKRANIAN
following Soviet
oppression of the
Ukraine in the
early 20th century

Book cover copyright Xinran, 2006

Book cover copyright Barbara Demick, 2010

2006
published
series of
essays
originally
published in
The
Guardian
(UK)
newspaper
and related
to modern
day issues
facing
Chinese
people
throughout
the world.

2010 published non fiction

book describing realities of
everyday life for North Korean
citizens and defectors from
North to South Korea.

The full
content of
many official
documents
like legal
documents
are produced
only in English
or primarily in
English
Negative
mental health
impacts on
non speakers
of language of
power

I found a very cheap place in north

London. It had three bedrooms and one
living room, and was occupied by 15
Chinese men who all worked in
restaurants. They shared a tiny kitchen and
a bathroom, but kept a storeroom aside to
let to a translator who could help them
deal with local government.
I tried to explain that I was not well
qualified enough to take their very cheap
room because my English was poor, I had
no knowledge of the law and of how things
worked in this country. I could not
understand their papers from the Home
Office.
But I saw how scared, insecure and lost
they were, the massive worry in their
begging eyes and thirsty words. I felt so
sorry I couldnt help them.
Xinran (2006) pg 64.

Local
government
communicates
using the
globally
dominant
language.
This results in
loss of
independence
for nonspeakers and
language
learners

Book cover copyright

Barbara Demick 2010

When a globally
dominant language is
imposed even within
cultures it does not
originate from, it can be a
battle for native speakers
to fight for the right to
use their native language
If a language has not
been actively promoted
and/or is not used
globally by speakers of
power, that language is
likely to be less available
for practical use in global
language situations

Professionals who migrate to a new country or language

community can be profoundly disadvantaged by aspects
of Linguistic Imperialism found in the
re-qualification requirements of the adopted country.

After years of fighting the South Korea

Medical Board she bit the bullet and at age
forty began a four-year medical program.
Her studies, she told me, were difficult, not
because her training in North Korea had left
her ill prepared but because the South Korean
medical school used English terminology that
was completely unfamiliar to her.

The only foreign language she had studied was

Russian.
Barbara Demick (2010) pp. 259-260

Conclusion
Ongoing Questions about the English language and Linguistic
Imperialism:

Active or Accidental?
Morally wrong or morally irrelevant?

Survival of the fittest or deliberate dominance?

Can any negative impacts be mitigated?

REFERENCES
Crystal, D. (1997). English as a Global Language. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press
Crystal, D. (2003). English as a Global Language. Cambridge, UK; New York:
Cambridge University.
Demick, B (2010). Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea. New York:
Spiegel & Grau
English Language Imperialism: Year In Review 1997. (2010). In Encyclopdia
Britannica. Retrieved October 05, 2010, from Encyclopdia Britannica Online
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1016976/language-imperialism
Phillipson, R.H.L. (1992). Linguistic Imperialism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Talbot, M., Atkinson, K., & Atkinson, D. (2003). Language and power in the modern
world. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
Widdowson, H.G. (1998a) EIL: squaring the Circles. A Reply. World Englishes
pp.397-401.
Xinran (2006) What the Chinese Dont Eat. Great Britain: Vintage.