English is not just a national
language it is a unique global
passport.
The sameness of language can
overcome any identity crisis,
sometimes inconveniently.
When I arrived in London,
fresh from South Africa and
desperate to immerse myself
in a foreign culture, language
became an issue. If I opened
my mouth to speak and there
was a South African nearby
(and there usually was…)
they would inevitably gravitate
toward me and want to bond.
This was not what I had in
mind; I have nothing against
my fellow citizens but I had
spent a lot of money, and
come a long way to have a
‘foreign’ experience.
The concept of a bunch of
us hanging out together in
London was beyond me.
Just as there is safety in
numbers, there is safety in
a shared language. Our voice
quality, accent, vocabulary,
and particular idiom all denote
who we are and where we come
from. Language articulates
our identity. Others recognise
this identity and either there
is a synchronicity (you’re
part of the group) or there
is not. Friends feel the same
about things; have similar
interests; and will often
express themselves in a common
language.
The British government’s
Kingman report in 1988 on
the teaching of English firmly
endorsed the importance of
language education as an instrument
of personal development, and
the promotion of a sense of
personal identity: the ‘shaping
of personality and the exploration
of self are inextricably bound
up with language development.”
But the report also recognised
the role of language teaching
to develop wider identities.
“From childhood,”
it says, “we learn to
use language not only to identify
with certain groups but also
to exclude others.”
To belong to a particular
‘nation’ is a
sense of identity. We reside
in a certain geographical
area and are as a result,
a certain race. South Africa
is a good example of people
of many different races trying
to develop a sense of patriotic
identity in respect of the
nation. This, of course is
only happening now, and South
Africa was a prime example
of how certain groups who
do not talk the same, look
the same, or act the same
are excluded from the ‘greater’
group. However, given the
importance of communication
in fostering links between
people, it is not surprising
that language is high on the
list. South Africa has eleven
official languages but English
is the one you need in order
to get a worthwhile job; in
fact, there are few countries
in the world where English
is not used in the course
of a day. English has become
our global common ground.
Language helps to articulate
cross-national identities
that would otherwise be difficult
to sustain. Therefore, the
Kingman report emphasised
the need for children to widen
their horizons and prepare
themselves to enter a ‘public
world’ to which the
passport is language. International
conferences are usually held
in English; our cross-national
youth culture currently converse
mostly over the Internet in
English; popular music is
often sung in English and
so it goes. Language is seen
as opening pathways not only
to careers but also to fulfilment
in identifying with the global
community at large - and which
you may seek to identify with
as well.
The Bilinguagroup has an internationally
renowned translation and interpreting
team that are passionate and
multilingual with 20 years
experience in the language
arena. Providing professional
translation and interpreting
services around the globe
means more than just solid
translation at competitive
prices – understanding
different cultures and the
use of language is essential
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