again, this assignment is for class. these are simply my thoughts and reflections on language/linguistic imperialism. i have not studied the topic and this is by no means a thesis.
1. that one language (and subsequently culture) is superior to the other and therefore threatening.
2. on the other hand, the spread of the hegemonic language could be extremely fruitful for the less affluent country.
as a future TESOL teacher and a culture-lover, i could argue, to a degree, either point. bringing english to a developing country, for example, is generally a very positive thing and a step in the right direction toward economic development. the ability to speak english often means more business opportunities, access to greater technology and the option to communicate with countless more people groups. it is well-established and functional all over the world, and essential for working in many industries.
on the contrary, the transfer of dominance of a certain language can easily become a transfer of power and culture. this is obviously threatening to any valued culture, whether it has a strong global presence or otherwise.
in the context of what i am doing here, i hope to teach english as a means to equip people for a better lifestyle - simply furthering their education and widening their span of communication. while doing so, i think it is important to be respectful of their culture and embrace it, being careful not to press my own norms on them in a demeaning way. in my goals journal, i said i wanted to embrace the culture. this means letting go of some of the things i am used to and accepting that my life now is here.
"when in rome, do as the romans do." --st. ambrose
1 comment:
when in quito!
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