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Is English a force for good? What have been the ramifications of this language’s dominance in ex colonies and also throughout the world?
We debate how local languages have suffered as a result of the spread of English and investigate the consequences of its influence on indigenous communities. Language campaigner Neville Alexander provides a South African perspective on the negative aspects of a language when it begins to represent economic and political power and a panel of linguists debate some of the controversies caused by English and whether they believe it still has a future.
By: The OpenLearn team (The Open University,)
- Duration 1 hour
- Updated Friday 12th August 2011
- Posted under Languages, English Language
Track 1: Language choice in South Africa
Neville Alexander explains how his experience in Robben Island turned him into a campaigner for language rights.
© The Open University 2011
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Tracks in this podcast:
Track | Title | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | Language choice in South Africa | Neville Alexander explains how his experience in Robben Island turned him into a campaigner for language rights. Play now Language choice in South Africa |
2 | The politics of learning languages in South African society | Neville Alexander discusses his role in English language planning in South Africa. Play now The politics of learning languages in South African society |
3 | Why has the rise of English caused so much controversy? | English is championed as an essential tool for participation yet is criticized for causing real social harm. Play now Why has the rise of English caused so much controversy? |
4 | The position of English today | A panel of Linguists discuss place of English in an increasingly globalized world. Play now The position of English today |
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Originally published: Friday, 12th August 2011
Copyright information
- Body text - Content : Copyright The Open University
- Audio/Video tracks: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 The Open University 2011
- Image 'English: Language of controversy' - Copyright: The Open University 2011
- Image 'Tourist' - Copyright: Dreamstime
- Image 'Several language books, stacked next to a globe, with headphones, in a library,. ' - Copyright: Dreamstime
- Image 'A wall depicting greetings in a number of languages' - Quinn Dombrowski under Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 license
- Image 'The Open University Berrill Building' - Copyright: The Open University/Karen Parker
- Image 'Mountains at sunrise' - Copyright free: 12019
- Image 'Pinkerton Map of Northern England from 1818' - Copyright free: John Pinkerton [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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Publication details
-
Originally published: Friday, 12th August 2011
Copyright information
- Body text - Content: Copyright The Open University
- Audio/Video tracks: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 The Open University 2011
- Image 'English: Language of controversy' - Copyright: The Open University 2011
- Image 'Tourist' - Copyright: Dreamstime
- Image 'Several language books, stacked next to a globe, with headphones, in a library,. ' - Copyright: Dreamstime
- Image 'A wall depicting greetings in a number of languages' - Quinn Dombrowski under Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 license
- Image 'The Open University Berrill Building' - Copyright: The Open University/Karen Parker
- Image 'Mountains at sunrise' - Copyright free: 12019
- Image 'Pinkerton Map of Northern England from 1818' - Copyright free: John Pinkerton [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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