Languages are always changing.


Language is dynamic, always changing, and it changes for many reasons. One of the most obvious reasons for change in language is to globalization. Through globalization, languages come into contact with each other, and they borrow words as new ideas and objects are adopted.


Consider the following words which English has borrowed from other languages.

Afrikaans

  • Apartheid - separateness
  • Trek - a journey by wagon

Algonkian

  • Caucus - a political meeting

Cree

  • Moose
  • Skunk
  • Pow wow - he dreams; a meeting or conference

Danish

  • Ombudsman - an official who handles complaints

Egyptian

  • Paper - from papyrus

Farsi (Persian)

  • Caravan - a chain of pack animals carrying goods
  • Checkmate - chess term meaning "the king is dead"

French

  • Hundreds of words - candy, chef

Micmac

  • Toboggan - a drag made of skin

Swedish

  • Orienteering - hiking with map and compass
  • Scuffle - a confused struggle

Tahitian

  • Tattoo


Around the world, approximately 6,000 languages are spoken. In our globalizing world, only about 600 are expected to survive this century. Aboriginal languages are disappearing at an alarming rate. Language loss frequently indicates the dominant culture is overwhelming local Indigenous languages. A language disappears when it is no longer passed from one generation to another. This happens for many reasons. If a child is educated in the language of the dominant culture, children will no longer use their language to communicate to others, so they do not pass that language on to their children. Also, the popular culture tends to be in the dominant language. In this case, the media (TV or radio) use the dominant language, and children are immersed in that dominant language.

As this trend continues, parents lose their ability to communicate their values and culture to their children resulting in more loss of language. With the loss of language, a second loss occurs - the loss of identity and culture. At the same time, relationships between generations break down eroding of histories and legacies.


Think about

What does globalization have to do with your language and your identity? If globalization enables you to speak other languages and communicate with people of many cultures and from nations, you are enriched by broadening your horizons and deepening your understanding. You can understand many different viewpoints. However, if globalization causes you to lose your language, it limits your ability to communicate with people in your own culture. It can make you lose a valuable part of who you are.


Complete the language section of the Assignment 1.3: Factors of Identity chart.