Language, Identity and Power - Essay Example

Standard English “Language is by its very nature a communal thing; that is, it expresses never the exact thing but a compromise-that is common to you, me and everybody”- Thomas Ernest Hulme. Bridging the gap between the people and their views, ideas and opinions, language is the basis of human interaction. It is the language which promotes unity and a sense of harmony among people, nation and the world. Having the importance of uniting people’s understanding and opinion on a common platform, a need for a common language is obligatory. Beginning after 600 A.D, English is a language now evidently spoken, heard and written by over 750 million people across the world. It has impacted different fields of life in different ways. International magazines, newspapers, instruction manuals, websites and things which are made for any user are all entitled in English. Thus, becoming the language of International Business, Diplomacy and Science. It has indeed united world on a common platform, serving as the global language (NORTON, 2000). However, English is spoken and written differently by different people, all over the world. The fact that one language is diversified owes to the impact of minor ideological, social and linguistic differences among human societies and communities. Different societies and communities have their own “Standard English” which is dependent of their culture, accent, prestige and social status. Variants of such are reportedly observed and seen. National integrity and identity are the driving forces of such variants. This has led the world to move to the communication chaos, as one specific language same in context, accent and written format fails to exist. The curriculum for National Curriculum for English is in discussion and debate since the 1980’s (WARDHAUGH, 2002). Standard English Standard English is not "a language" in any meaningful sense (FAIRCLOUGH, 2001). It is not a style, accent, language or register but by many is proposed to be a dialect, which in more specific term is a variety of dialect more commonly used. There is no specific background or record of where it is from. Standard English is associated with authority, discipline and traditional, moral and social order. Standard English has colloquial as well as formal variants. Migration of communities, casts, race and societies changed the essence of the native English Language of the Britain. The Anglos, Saxons and Jutes are majorly responsible for one such variant. Thus, Standard English is taken to be the combination of different linguistic features of accent, style and arthrography of a culture and community promoting impact on the language. Natively, English is spoken in United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. However, the context, accent, style and pronunciation vary widely in all. Thus we can conclude that every country, society or community propose their own standard for a language. This becomes their “standard language”, here “standard English” in this case. But since 1980’s the debate over a global language and an effort to “Standardize English” was initiates, this led to the development of “Standard English”, which despite cultural, ideological social and psychological differences is same in context of vocabulary, grammar and orthography making written Performa to be internationally the same. Variations In Standard English’s Notion Standard English has colloquial as well as formal variants. History, culture, lifestyle, etiquettes, mindsets and ideology are different of every nation and community and so does the way in which they use and comprehend a language. Social differences in terms of intellect and cast level also determine the variance in Standard English posed by a community or country. People adopt the language accent and accountability, to what they think is of high level and thus keep it as a standard. Geographical changes and cultural diversity determine the way the people use a language. Pronunciations and accents differ when people adopt English as an official language because of its strong use. However, the official language with phase of time turns to become the native language and so a new style and accent in a language is born. Cultural variances also contribute to changes in style, accents and pronunciations as the drive for cultural identity with profound sense of patriotism and nationalism promotes the native English speakers to diverse themselves from another, showing minor lingual differences to be greater and of profound importance and value. Mixture of cultures as a result of migration or merging of civilizations is also the reason for variation in ideological context of a language used. As a consequence of such mixing, mostly people speak a combination of different varieties of different Standard English which is often a mixture of regional and Standard English. World Standard English The notion of World Standard English can be best described by analyzing the following quote; “Coffee is a language in itself”. Coffee is drunk and used widely by people living in different parts of the world. If I am not mistaken, then almost every individual living on the earth has tasted coffee. Some add cream; some just milk while some add both. Some use brown sugar, some white sugar or some none at all. Some use fresh beans, some grinded whereas mostly instant powder is used. If we apply the following scenario to English then English spoken by all differs in accents, vocabulary, contexts, ideology and the impact of culture of a society. However like coffee still is called coffee as coffee beans are utilized by all, no matter what variation is done. Thus English is also called English no matter how, what or when used as some parts are similar because of same basic grammatical contents so. Therefore all this must be kept in mind when we talk of Standard English (AGER, D., MUSKENS and WRIGHT, 1993) This Standardized English is seen and observed on the news channels, radios and televisions. Its written Performa is observed in magazines, newspapers and books. Thus this fulfills the requirement of a language providing common platform. “Most of the fundamental ideas of science are essentially simple, and may, as a rule, be expressed in a language comprehensible to everyone.”- Albert Einstein. Thus, a need for World Standard English is a necessity. Relevance of Standard English for a country Individual identity, national integrity and the focus to establish a hallmark on Earth is often the mindset we are faced with. Every country whether big or small, wants to nationally and internationally represent itself in the best of terms, outwitting all others and to hold pride in one-self. Language however is that hallmark of fame. English is a native language in many countries. Such countries develop a strong sense of individuality and show their linguistic differences and modifications by culture imposingly to others, out casting influences of others on their language. Dis-uniformity and the concept of language as power is often the reason for arraying differences in the same language spoken globally. “England and America are two countries separated by the same language”- George Bernard Shaw. Thus differences are exposed and imposed so dramatically with such national importance as a threat to national security so much so that even a same language may appear completely different in so many ways. The use of language in institution specifically courts, schools offices and government institutions relates arthrography and structure of a language being used. The longing for individuality is often keenly observed in the use of different grammatical contexts and spellings in the standard language used in institution, specifically to make the non-local foreigner aware of the importance of the native language. Dialects, albeit prestige, political and economic status is the base of setting a standard of Standard English by a country or region. Thus Standard English for a country is the measure of its progress, development and political and national status in the world. Thereby standard language is a medal of honor for a country and should be given proper respect (THOMAS, L., & WAREING, 1999). Language is the identity of a country determining and representing its culture, moral values, dialects, prestige, economic status and political background. Hence the strive for a country’s honor and International identity, prestige and hallmark can be achieved through a separate and distinctive language and its rich literature. Conclusion In the war of dominance and power, the maintenance of national identity, individuality and integrity is of prime importance and value for every country. Socially, this war can be won by imposing the sense of patriotism and distinct superiority by the use of a distinctive and literature profound and rich language. Thus safeguard of minor linguistic identities, differences and individuality of a language is likely to result. Although it is a common perspective that English despite the variant dialects and accents is similar however, the strive for national individuality makes the differences greater than similarities, owing to variants not being slightly different but in fact being an entire different language itself. It is ironic that the strive for unity and equality in terms of communication and platform is overlooked in this war of social dominance and prestige. References Top of Form Bottom of Form \Top of Form Bottom of Form FAIRCLOUGH, N. (2001). Language and power. Harlow, Eng, Longman. NORTON, B. (2000). Identity and language learning: gender, ethnicity and educational change. Harlow, England, Longman. WARDHAUGH, R. (2002). An introduction to sociolinguistics. Malden, Mass, Blackwell. Top of Form THOMAS, L., & WAREING, S. (1999). Language, society and power: an introduction. London, Routledge. Bottom of Form Top of Form AGER, D., MUSKENS, G., & WRIGHT, S. (1993). Language education for intercultural communication. Clevedon [etc.], Multilingual Matters. Bottom of Form Read More