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語言、文化與文學語言、文化與文學Language, Culture and LiteratureLanguage, Culture and Literature

Cheang Wai FongCheang Wai Fong

Center for General EducationCenter for General EducationChang Gung University, TaiwanChang Gung University, Taiwancheangwf@mail.cgu.edu.twcheangwf@mail.cgu.edu.tw

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English=European costumeEnglish=European costume

What English is to us today can be comparable What English is to us today can be comparable to what “European costume” is to the Turkish to what “European costume” is to the Turkish astronomer in Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s astronomer in Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s world-famous book, world-famous book, The Little PrinceThe Little Prince (1943). (1943). Without his “European costume,” the Turkish Without his “European costume,” the Turkish astronomer was not believed. Without astronomer was not believed. Without English, we would not be heard in the English, we would not be heard in the international community, less to say to be international community, less to say to be believed. believed.

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English = international languageEnglish = international language

It cannot be denied at this very historical It cannot be denied at this very historical moment that English is the international moment that English is the international language. The urge and the need to globalize language. The urge and the need to globalize have prompted lots of us whose native tongues have prompted lots of us whose native tongues are not English to learn the language. are not English to learn the language.

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Edward W. Said’s remarksEdward W. Said’s remarks

However, we cannot ignore what Edward Said However, we cannot ignore what Edward Said once said about the English learning in a once said about the English learning in a national university in a Gulf state. national university in a Gulf state.

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““[t]his all but terminally [t]his all but terminally consigned English to the level of consigned English to the level of a technical language almost a technical language almost totally stripped of totally stripped of expressive and expressive and aesthetic characteristicsaesthetic characteristics but also but also denuded of anydenuded of any critical or self-critical or self-conscious dimensionconscious dimension” (1990, p.3).” (1990, p.3).

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Local Colors and ConfidenceLocal Colors and Confidence

The present social context of the English languThe present social context of the English language is a age is a multi-culturalmulti-cultural one; and the ruling out one; and the ruling out of of locallocal colors is thus the placing of English le colors is thus the placing of English learning in an impossible vacuum. arning in an impossible vacuum.

It is important to develop local student’s confiIt is important to develop local student’s confidence. This aspect should be given more considence. This aspect should be given more consideration than the demand for standard English.deration than the demand for standard English.

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1. Cultural: Possible Critical and 1. Cultural: Possible Critical and Self-Conscious Dimension Self-Conscious Dimension

Historical perpective:Historical perpective: Our present historical context strengthens the need to Our present historical context strengthens the need to

globalize, and under such a need, a mastery of Englisglobalize, and under such a need, a mastery of English for international communication allows English to h for international communication allows English to enjoy a prestigious position. enjoy a prestigious position.

However, if one mounts onto the time machine and trHowever, if one mounts onto the time machine and travels back to eleventh-century England, one discoveravels back to eleventh-century England, one discovers that the English language did not have the status it es that the English language did not have the status it enjoys today. njoys today.

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The Norman ConquestThe Norman Conquest

The Norman Conquest made French the The Norman Conquest made French the prestigious language in England for over two prestigious language in England for over two centuries. During that period “anybody whose centuries. During that period “anybody whose native tongue was English, and who wanted to native tongue was English, and who wanted to get on in the world, had to learn French” get on in the world, had to learn French” (Barber, 1993, p.135). (Barber, 1993, p.135).

The language of the conqueror was the desired The language of the conqueror was the desired language. language.

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Norman ConquestNorman Conquest From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia on netFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia on net.. The The Norman ConquestNorman Conquest was the conquest of was the conquest of

EnglandEngland by by William the ConquerorWilliam the Conqueror ( (Duke of NormandyDuke of Normandy), in ), in 10661066 at the at the Battle of HastingsBattle of Hastings and the subsequent Norman and the subsequent Norman control of England. It is an important watershecontrol of England. It is an important watershed in English history for a number of reasons.d in English history for a number of reasons.

It changed the English language and cultIt changed the English language and culture.ure.

Our own historical existentialismOur own historical existentialism

Not unlike Englishmen during the Norman Not unlike Englishmen during the Norman Conquest who were eager to learn French, today Conquest who were eager to learn French, today we are eager to learn English, a language that we are eager to learn English, a language that would help us “get on in the world.” would help us “get on in the world.”

We are, in a sense, determined by our own We are, in a sense, determined by our own historical context. historical context.

Nevertheless, our intellect must attempt to go Nevertheless, our intellect must attempt to go beyond the confines of our times, to attain a beyond the confines of our times, to attain a critical perspective. critical perspective.

Linguistic imperialism and colonizationLinguistic imperialism and colonization Scholars such as Ngugi Wa Thiong and Robert Scholars such as Ngugi Wa Thiong and Robert

Phillipson are extremely critical of the triumphPhillipson are extremely critical of the triumphant spread of the English language. They have ant spread of the English language. They have presented to us that the wide spread of English presented to us that the wide spread of English is a kind of linguistic imperialism and colonizais a kind of linguistic imperialism and colonization. tion.

Language is a constituent of culture, and the grLanguage is a constituent of culture, and the great influence of culture, as our post-modern coeat influence of culture, as our post-modern consciousness is aware of, explains why the sprensciousness is aware of, explains why the spread of English can be greeted with ad of English can be greeted with alarmalarm. .

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American HegemonyAmerican Hegemony Marc Ferro’s Marc Ferro’s Colonization: A Global History: Colonization: A Global History:

“European hegemony” is replaced by “Americ“European hegemony” is replaced by “American hegemony” in the Twentieth Century an hegemony” in the Twentieth Century (1997, p.3(1997, p.3

45).45). In Taiwan, we can discover the impact of AmeIn Taiwan, we can discover the impact of Ame

rican influence in our daily lives. rican influence in our daily lives. The wide spread of English schools, especially The wide spread of English schools, especially

ones that are entitled “Mei-yu” (literarily, Ameones that are entitled “Mei-yu” (literarily, American language) schools, reflects Taiwan’s histrican language) schools, reflects Taiwan’s historical determinism . orical determinism .

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A remark on our present praxisA remark on our present praxis

It is obvious that our present English learning It is obvious that our present English learning and teaching policy lack the clairvoyance to and teaching policy lack the clairvoyance to reflect on the cultural or ideological aspect of reflect on the cultural or ideological aspect of language. language.

(It focuses on the functional aspect of the (It focuses on the functional aspect of the language and regards English as a necessary language and regards English as a necessary means for globalization.) means for globalization.)

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Sociolinguists: English is a must nowSociolinguists: English is a must now

Sociolinguist, Joshua A. Fishman, observes Sociolinguist, Joshua A. Fishman, observes that “the real ‘powerhouse’ is still English.” that “the real ‘powerhouse’ is still English.”

He says that “[English] doesn’t have to worry He says that “[English] doesn’t have to worry about being loved because, loved or not, it about being loved because, loved or not, it works” works” (1983, p.20).(1983, p.20).

In a similar fashion Nash claims that “English In a similar fashion Nash claims that “English goes with the new technology, with fashion, goes with the new technology, with fashion, with business, with life in the fast lanewith business, with life in the fast lane” (1992, ” (1992, p.185). p.185).