Impact of homogeny and heterogeny on globalization - Term Paper Example

Impact of Homogeny and Heterogeny on Globalization, Colonization and Imperialism. There are multiple domains in which English as a language plays similar roles, economy and business being one of those salient domains (MckaySanda 45). In many parts of the world, English continues to take the place of privilege. It belongs to and is widely used by the ruling system, education, diplomacy, trade, and business. In order to understand the role of English in the complex global world, it is worth thinking outside questions of cultural empires and language communities.

The notion and the idea of language communities posits problematic commonality in terms of the assumptions of the word community and the premises behind the use of the term language (Alastair 65). The premises behind cultural empires is also problematic. It, however, equally suggests some form of commonality, albeit the imposed one. This, therefore, implies that English represents a similarity of thought and culture. In both cases, the notions tend to suggest some level of homogeneity occurring as a result of shared language.

The alternative versions of spread of English globally proposes a heterogeneous versions, in which there are many worlds and Englishes. There has divergence views on the impact of homogeneity and heterogeneity on globalization, colonization and imperialism. For some studies, homogeneity and heterogeny impacts negatively on globalization and leads to colonization and imperialism, for some heterogeny and homogeneity impacts positively on globalization (MckaySanda 90). In this paper, we propose a research to ascertain the relationship between heterogeny, and homogeny.

It seek to argue that the heterogeneous version has its flaws, based upon a supposedly pluralisation of Englishes that is based around new emergent national linguistic identities. The rest of the proposed research will deal with various issues from many perspectives. It will open up the understanding of current issues with regard to community of English speakers. It will argue that there can be no understanding of English without appreciating globalization as a local and global process, as both an oppositional and an impositional set of relations producing something new.

Firstly, the paper will look at the current debate over the spread of English globally, looking at arguments over heterogeny and homogeny in the world. The central argument here will be an individual’s understanding of English as part of a language community and a cultural empire depends on the model of globalization employed. Secondly, the paper will briefly look at colonial language policy. This will help make several points. One of such points will be that colonialism leads to complex empires than the initial simple language communities.

This means that the goal and toll of colonialism was spreading colonial language. The use of local languages (vernacular) as part of the orientalist preservationist and a policy of a pragmatic vernacularism was as significant as the usage of English. Post-war changes, changing political and economic conditions and the rise of the United States has influence the spread of English. One other effects of colonial relations is the maintenance and construction of languages. Finally, various new perspectives for thinking about English language globally will be considered.

Work Cited Alastair Penny Cook. Nationalism, Identity and Popular Culture.” Sociolinguistics and Language Education: New perspective on language and education edited by Nancy H. Hamburger and Sandra Lee Mackay. 60-89. MckaySanda Lee. “English as an International Language.” Sociolinguistics and Language Education: New perspective on language and education edited by Nancy H. Homberger and Sandra Lee Mackay. 89-115.