Notes on Language Loss and Globalization of English

Introduction

• Speaker has lived and taught in the Gulf for over 30 years.
• Discussion on language loss and the globalization of English.

Personal Experience

• Anecdote about a friend teaching English in Abu Dhabi.
  • Took students to the garden to learn nature vocabulary.
  • Learned Arabic names and uses of plants from students.
  • Knowledge passed down from grandparents and great-grandparents.
• Importance of intergenerational communication.

Language Loss Statistics

• A language dies every 14 days.
• English as the global language:
  • Rapid rise in the use of English worldwide.

Historical Context

• First teaching experience in Kuwait:
  • Recruited by the British Council to teach English in state schools.
  • Aimed to modernize and empower citizens through education.
  • UK benefitted from oil wealth.

Evolution of English Teaching

• Teaching English has shifted from a mutual benefit to a major international business.
• English is no longer limited to native speakers (e.g. UK, US).
• Demand for English education due to the best universities being in English-speaking countries.

Gatekeeping in Education

• Language proficiency tests as barriers to education:
  • Non-native speakers must pass tests to enter universities.
  • Question of fairness in rejecting students based on language alone.
  • Example: Would reject a brilliant non-English speaker?
• Danger of Power:
  • Concerns about giving too much power to English teachers.

Translation and Historical Context

• Importance of translation in history (Islamic Golden Age).
• Questions around the self-fulfilling prophecy of English being the dominant language in research.

Critique of English as a Barrier

• Criticism of equating intelligence with knowledge of English.
• Historical figures like Einstein did not have English requirements.
• Language tests (e.g. TOEFL) can be prohibitively expensive for many.

The Great Divide

• Education as a dividing line:
  • Desire for English education stems from wanting better job opportunities.

Collaboration Across Languages

• Story about two English scientists needing a German colleague to solve a problem:
  • Different languages can offer new perspectives and solutions.
• Personal anecdote about the speaker's daughter:
  • Studied Science and Mathematics in Arabic, excelled after translating into English.

Consequences of Language Death

• Importance of preserving languages to avoid losing knowledge and ideas.
• Example of a Kenyan boy who invented a solar lamp for his village:
  • Highlighted the potential of individuals when resources are provided.

Conclusion

• Call for celebrating diversity in language and thought.
• Encouragement to use language as a tool for sharing ideas and progress.