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English and Culture

Cultural identity in this context can be defined as the identity or the feeling of belonging to a particular social group or ethic faction. Culture entails the fashion, foods, religions and activities particular people involve in.

Language diversity is the existence of active multiple languages globally. With the world becoming a global village and English rapidly acquiring the status of a global language, many native lingoes and cultures are being phased out.

Globalization entails cultural, political, and linguistic adjustments, which communities may accept to personify their culture and integrate it into the human race. It leads to the amalgamation of the globe and advocates for the breaking of cultural hurdles which has both positive and negative impacts. Language is the best means to acquisition of information, thus, language diversity can be termed as the key. It is feared that linguistic diversity is deteriorating, a fact that is attributed to the supremacy of English in our education systems.

Globalization of culture

Accordingly, language defines who we are, where our language is directly linked to our culture and dictates how well we interact with the rest of the world. English as a language is the most widespread globally; it has influenced educational guidelines through out the world. Many countries (developed and developing) view globalization as language proficiency and in this case, proficiency in English. It goes without saying that, English always is recognized as the official language of most nations. Globalization has always had a role in cultural identity. In today’s world, distinct cultures are facing extinction, with cultural identity being a problem faced by many a young generation today. With globalization comes liberated information, diversity in technology, faster modes of transportation, and a globalized market. This ultimately calls for a unified global culture and language. The spread of cultural contacts paves way for the introduction of new type of culture. Although globalization exhibits the picture of multiplicity, it involves cultural homogenization subjective to global equality of trade and industry activities and a movement of cultural products from the production zone to the marginalized sectors.

 Contact to cultural diversity has led to the introduction of multiculturalism and is a threat to the diversity of culture as it assimilates them. Others may view it as a positive effect as it sponsors global harmony and perception. A different view is that, with multiculturalism, there is no distinction made thus one is able to traverse several cultures through clothes, foods, music, sports, travel, and many more. With English language dominating the centre stage of global languages, western corporations are producing and marketing products and services such as foods, clothes, and communication that affect other cultures. Availability of technologically improved cheap products has altered cultural identity within many communities world wide. Local goods being produced by multinational corporations (enviably western) flood the world markets, and the developing countries goods have no niche. For example; with the production of cellular phones (with English commands), communication is being made easier and the culture of societal meetings being eradicated. Familiarizing oneself with the English language puts them on the platform where global market is concerned.

The language has opened the opportunities for people to interact at a global level. The media has seen to it that people all over the world can keep in touch at the click of a button. With the widespread of crazes like the social networks and internet games, an ample number of cultures have been integrated. This has been aided by the widespread availability of internet which serves as tool in breaking cultural barriers. Studies show that approximately 50% of all internet traffic is in English.

English has enabled occidentalization through the homogenization of language. Sporting events are a thing to reckon with as in the case of trendy examples of championship games, world cup, and olympic games.  This has been influenced by media, as about 40% of the global radio stations transmit in English and 35% of mails, cables and telexes are in English.  As one flips through TV channels, a prominent feature is fights and vulgar languages, which unfortunately, young people are identifying with quite fast. As one culture receives pressure from other cultures it overlooks some of it practices and embraces others and slowly becomes transformed to something different, multiculturalism.

A good example of cultural identity integration is clothes, where with the global marketing of designer clothes, every one want to be fashionable. For instance, someone in Asia could be shopping for designer suits from Italy while someone in America will be buying a Japanese kimono and some one in Africa the Indian sari all done through the English language. Denim jeans, an authentic American wear is a household wear globally, a perfect example of effects of English on cultural identity.