English Linguistic Imperialism

Hashmi Rafsanjani
Eng 106
ID 1020846

English Linguistic Imperialism

 “Language has always been the consort of an empire, and shall
forever remain it’s companion”
- Nebrija, Illich 1981:35.

Monolingualism have existed since the Greek Era

with it’s stigmatization of languages other than
Greek as “barbarian” or “non-language”.

At the heart of the European Conquest of the new-

world, was the objective of establishing it’s
colonial languages. It was viewed as a “tool for
conquest abroad”

English Linguistic Imperialism

 "the dominance asserted and maintained by the establishment and
continuous reconstitution of structural and cultural inequalities
between English and other languages“
- Robert Phillipson, Linguistic Imperialism/1992.

English Linguistic Imperialism

 “the dominance asserted and maintained…”
•In North America, Australia and New Zealand. English replaced other indigenous,
native and immigrant languages. This is often referred to as Linguicism.
•
•However, the expansion was checked in Canada and Wales, resulting in
“multilingualism”. (Lewis ’92)

•In periphery-English countries, English usage was forcibly implemented through

colonialism and international interdependence.
•
•
“by the establishment and continuous reconstitution…”

•The British Council

•Goethe-Institut
•Alliance Française
•The World Bank
•International Monetary Fund
•
•
“of structural and cultural inequalities...”
•Involved whitewashing of Arabian, Indian, Pacific Nationalism and
exercised heavy British and Imperial U.S self-interests.
•
•Often camouflaged under the essence of bridging cultural gaps and
building international ties.
•
•

English Linguistic Imperialism

 Masterminding the ELT

Internationalization of English
•After WW II, ELT was seen as a means towards
achieving political and economic goals.
•
•A means of securing ties of all kinds with the
leaders of the “developing countries”
•
•Allow the capitalist system to adapt to and
dominate a changing world.
•
•ELT historically viewed, is unquestionably neo-
colonist and operates within a framework of
imperialism.
•
•British Council has been the prime player in ELT
around the world, pioneering the model in
providing cheap and accessible language
materials.
•
• 425 million In 2009

vWorldwide count contains ESL – English As A

Second Language + EFL – English As A Foreign
Language.
vGuesstimates provided by Crystal 1985:7
reports.
5-7 million native speakers
vELT reports provided by Robert Phillipson,
Linguistic Imperialism 1992.

English Linguistic Imperialism

 English Linguistic Imperialism and its aspects.

•Linguistic Imperialism is innately related to

Cultural Imperialism and loss of native ways are
always imminent.
•
•Apparent brain drain of the east, in turn absorbs
and transcends the customs of the west.
•
•Gave rise to numerous conspiracy theories
suggesting the formation of the Commonwealth
of God.
•
•Uproar and silent social protests in nations who
are considering the acceptance of English as a
official second language.
•
•Promotes mixed script of native integrated
within English dialects.
•
•

“…with English textbooks, one is not only learning a

new language but also a new way of life..”
- British Cabinet Report 1956.

English Linguistic Imperialism

 Language is Power

English Linguistic Imperialism