Globalization and Language

Globalization is readily increasing in today's world. This increase in globalization has many effects on language, both positive and negative. These effects on language in turn affect the culture of the language in many ways.

One way globalization can affect language is by spreading a language globally, sometimes to the point where a language is considered a dominant language, such as with the English language. By dominant, one does not mean that the English language is spoken as a native language by more speakers than any other language. In fact, Mandarin is the most spoken language in the world. Rather, dominate language refers to the fact that the English language is used more globally, such as in business, media, Internet, etc. According to Schichao Li in her article, "Globalization of Languages," the English language can be considered a global language because "Except English, no other language dominates international business, academia, media, the Internet, and international air/sea traffic."¹ Li also continues on to explain that the dominance of the English language in encouraged because it has become a popular language for international scientific publications. This is because scholars believe more people will be able to read their article if it is published in English.¹

This dominance for the English language globally, as with any language that is globally dominant, helps to spread that language. People will learn that language in order to function more on a global scale. Along with the spread of the dominant language, the language's culture is also spread. This can be seen in popular American movies being shown globally, as well as American media and American food, such as in the globalization of McDonald's. According to Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow in her article, "World's Languages are Fast Disappearing," "English has run rampant across the globe ... people want to speak English, because it is the language of advertising, blockbuster movies, and pop music, as well as a vital tool for success."² However, with globalization allowing languages and their cultures to spread and dominate on a global scale, it also leads to the extinction of other languages and cultures.

To understand why the endangerment or extinction of a language would harm a culture, one needs to understand how vital a language is to a culture's existence. Language contributes to the formation of culture, such as through vocabulary, greetings, humor, etc. Language is in a sense the substance of culture.² In his article, "Our Languages are Dying," Kiplangat Cheruiyot states that "Languages serve as important symbols of group belonging, enabling different groups of people to know what ethnic groups they belong to, and what common heritages they share."³ Without a language, people would lose their cultural identity.³

Unfortunately, globalization has contributed to the endangerment and extinction of many languages. An endangered language is on the is no longer spoken by children. A language becomes moribound when only a few elders speak it, and extinction is when it is no longer spoken.² Languages are rapidly disappearing. Estimates of current endangered languages range from 5,000 to 6,000 languages.² According to Garrick Bailey and James People in their book Humanity: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, estimates for extinct languages range from 4,000 to 9,000 since the 15th century.⁴ Other estimates for the future predict that only 10 percent of the present languages will continue into the 22^nd century.³

One way globalization contributes to the extinction of languages is through the dominance of other languages. One example of this already discussed is the English language, which is perceived as an advantage language because scholars publish their works in it and it is so globally dominant. According to Barbara F. Grimes in her article, "Global Language Viability," many parents push their children to learn English, or another dominant language, over their own minority language because they believe it will give their children an advantage in the global world.⁵ These parents mistakenly believe that children can only learn one language, and choose the dominant language over their own. Thus, children no longer speak their native tongue, and the language takes its first step into endangerment and extinction.

A second way globalization aids the endangerment and extinction of languages is through migration of people and their native languages. Globalization makes it easier for people to move outside their native territory, for example to work in another country, etc. Large masses of people can participate in forced or voluntary migration, in which their language becomes a minority language, and is eventually assimilated or disintegrated by the majority language.⁵ One example of this situation can be seen with the Native Americans, who were forced to migrate to where their language was no longer the majority language.⁵ This can also work both ways, as language groups that move into other language territories and become the major language, as in Hawaii.⁵ Governments can also participate in this method of language extinction, by forcing indigenous children to attend boarding schools where only the majority language is spoken.⁵

This endangerment of languages can have a drastic effect on the cultures that loses its language. Effects on language loss on cultures include: dismay at the realization that the native language is lost; anti-social behavior as they desperately try to preserve their language; loss of self-esteem.⁵ Therefore, it is important for a culture to preserve their language. Despite the increase in globalization, this is possible in many ways, such as language classes, promoting the native language in homes, schools, etc. and promoting a strong national identity.

According to Bailey and Peoples, Americans need to realize the importance of multilingualism and ethnic pride, and concentrate on foreign languages more in schools. If Americans and other people realize the importance of language, there can be a global effort to save those languages in danger of extinction, and at the same time preserve the cultures of those languages.

¹Li, Shichao. "Globalization of Languages" June 15, 2002. Available online: http://www.globalhawaii.org/PDF/language.pdf April 30,2003.
²Tuhus-Dubrow, Rebecca. "World's Languages are Fast Disappearing" April 25, 2002. Available online: http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/cultural
³ Cheruiyot, Kiplangat. "Our Languages are Dying" February 24, 2003. Available online: http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/cultural/2003/0224language.htm April 29,2003
⁴ Bailey, Garrick and People, James. Humanity: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. Thompson Learning, Inc. Belmont, CA 2003.
⁵Grimes, Babara F. "Global Language Vitality" April 29, 2002. Available online: http://www.sil.org/sociolx/ndg-lg-grimes_article.html April 30, 2003.