English as the Most Universally Employed Language in the World - Essay Example

Introduction English is the most universally employed language in the world. This means that it is probable to stumble on an English speaker in most regions round the globe than any other language. It is also considered as an official language in most scenarios and is used in official functions by numerous individuals, corporations and countries. Why is the case despite the existence of numerous? Why is English viewed as a dominant language? In order to understand these questions, it is crucial to consider the social and political context that led to this situation. The English language was commonly spoken in Britain. The spread of the language globally is mainly attributed to colonialism. The British due to their development economically increased their influence in Europe. The discovery of new lands to supply labor, raw materials among other motivations led the British to invade distant lands, and assert control. This was not limited to political control but was also extended to the social aspects of the natives. This included religion, education, legislation dressing and language among other aspects of their social life. This was mainly because their cultures were deemed as inferior to the modern culture practiced by their colonizers. This resulted in putting into peril the customs that were practiced by the indigenous communities, and the significant aspect that was adversely affected was language. These led to indigenous cultures being viewed with an attitude that it was inferior and backward. These perceptions have affected immensely indigenous cultures and languages at the expense of English language. Despite the English language being employed in the contemporary society, it had detrimental effects on indigenous language and culture. Attitudes towards Non-English Cultures and Language Colonialists and missionaries played a significant role in the spread of English. During their activities, they encountered natives who had cultures and languages that were developed and established. These languages were, however, unknown creating a language barrier that would have made the objectives of the colonialists and missionaries harder to accomplish. It was, therefore, crucial that the English language was spread to the natives to understand the language of their colonial masters (Jenkins, 2003 p51). The English were aware that the natives would not accept their language and culture willingly. Therefore, the colonialists had to portray the language of the natives as backward and barbarous. This made the natives admire the new culture and language and accept to adapt it willingly. Perhaps the English had a point since their culture and knowledge was advanced due to their education and economic situation. This made the English culture appear vogue and progressive to the natives. This, in turn, created a perception that the native culture is barbaric, a fact that is not proper. The English colonialists devalued the local languages and cultures resulting in the emergence of the superiority of the English language and consequently its culture. This is evident in various parts of the globe with the native culture and language being replaced with English. Communities that had a rich culture and a developed language slowly lost their grandeur, and were instead seen to glorify English discarding their native culture. Such communities include the Native American communities among numerous other cultures. Tribes like the Navajo, Hopi and Tohono among other American natives are seen to be losing their cultures over the years. This is because the culture is not percolated to the descents of these culturally rich and once prominent tribes in America. This resulted in the newer generations of indigenous communities adopting the English language rather than their native ones. This is evident in other regions of the world with most conspicuously the aborigines of Australia, whose new generations have picked up the English language despite their isolation and rich cultural background. There are numerous examples globally who have faced the same situations regarding their native cultures. One may ask why the two cultures could not coexist and complement each other, as opposed to the diminishing of the other. This is because human cultures are not in nature interchangeable, but instead the introduction of a more superior culture will lead to the diminishing of the lesser language (Jenkins, 2003 p51). This is because there will be cultural imperialism, as in the case of English, leading to the adoption of the culture that is deemed stronger. The attitude on some cultures and languages that are non-English has not changed much in that they are still viewed as inferior to the English language. This is because the new generations of such cultures have adopted the English language. This has impeded the development and preservation of their native language. This is evident America with the native communities that exist in the country since they have desisted from using their native language. Despite the country, having 175 indigenous tribes, the native language that is being percolated to the modern generation, amount to twenty tribes, a minute figure as compared to the tribes that are present. Among the native speakers, the languages of the southwest are valued, but sadly, the number of children speaking the language has been decreasingly rather steadily over the years. This means that the languages risk becoming extinct in future. There have been attempts to use the English language to represent indigenous traditions. This is evident with indigenous writers like Ortiz among others. This has, however, been met with indifference with people pointing out that the language is not similar to the acceptable representation of the culture in the modern times English has been faulted to be highly emotive, in that it there are significant differences between L1 attracting criticisms. This is evident when Yoko Ono, Japanese was criticized for allegedly corrupting the language. This shows the attitude that exists in the modern world towards L2 English speakers. This is because their use of English varies from proper English. This, therefore, shows that the attitude towards non-English cultures has not altered greatly in that they are still viewed to be inferior (Jenkins, 2003 p51). There are, however, changes in the modern times in that the community is starting to recognize L2 English speakers. This is through the initiative of codifying describing and standardizing local English in the various regions. This is, however, only the onset of balancing the stage for these speakers in attaining the proper recognition they deserve. This is likely to be opposed by the mainstream, as they will not accept the language as legitimate. Conclusion The English language is commonly used globally. This is mainly attributed to colonialism, which resulted in the spread of the language to new regions. This, however, led to the creation of a perception that non-English cultures are inferior creating inferiority complex among its speakers. The effects of these perceptions and the adoption of the English culture is evident today with the diminishing trend of the native languages. These perceptions need to change to ensure that native languages are preserved. Inferiority Complex among Non-Native Speakers Non-local English speakers’ attitudes towards their inferiority complex were caused by lack of adequate comprehension of the language. Additionally, in the ancient days the natives were the homegrown population in the globe. A reference that the natives were locals meant that they were inferior and uncivilized in their culture through the language that they spoke. According to the Europeans, by non-natives acquiring the new English language to use as their language was advancement equated to technological enhancement. This lack of self-belief by the non-natives in their own lingo stimulated the Europeans to undermine their language. Although, they are the majority speakers of English recently, they partly feel civilized by having learnt the language. There were, therefore, not advanced before they invented speaking in English, a fact that decreases the dignity of the non-natives to be inferior citizens. The non-natives also felt inferior when the loss of the meaning of their language implied dissolution in their identities too. The loss of identity was in part due to English language being by then an international language since it was known all over the universe. Identity is a crucial aspect in the culture of a society that when it is derailed for the adoption of the other, then it is due to the people being inferior about their beliefs. Identity crisis as it is commonly known has influenced the non-natives to restore their language by instilling it to the new generation. Majority of the family do not use the language but rather prefer to use English as they too feel inferior speaking a different language from the rest. The inferiority composite of the non-natives is identical as they are into English that they cannot pass their own language to others (Jenkins, 2003 p52). This aspect of inferiority complex among the non-local speakers started during the colonial period when English was the only spoken language. The fact that the language is regarded by people as the only official language meant for issuing instructions undermines the language of the non-local speakers. The Europeans do not trust other languages as proper but term them as superstitious languages only which are immoral or corrupt to the people. One who undermines another’s languages undermines the culture and beliefs of the former. This situation breeds unpleasant feelings between the two groups of thoughts because of inferiority complex. Inferiority complex of the non-local speakers was evident when the Europeans thought that the language was detrimental to their minds (Jenkins, 2003 p52). There is no way that when someone speaks then it becomes damaging to the minds of the recipients and other users. There is no biological connection between language and the mind defects condition. The fear that was instilled by the colonialists to their subjects whenever they spoke in their languages led to the degradation of the indigenous languages. However, the English language prevailed and advanced all over the globe as its words were incorporated into the non-native language. The introduction of civilization to the non-natives meant that they would think and behave like the Europeans. This also meant that they drop and adopt language of the Europeans making Europeans feel superior about their culture. After some time, this led to the lost of the non-natives’ culture in language thus the aspect of feeling inferior to the others culture. Reference Jennifer, J., (2003), World Englishes: A Resource Book For Students, London: Routledge. Read More