The Impact of Colonialism on English Language

Colonialism is not new in terms of history. It was an ancient art practiced by the Bronze and Iron Age Assyrians, Greek and Roman Empires; the Vikings; the Ottoman and Mughal Empire; Japan in East Asia; and the Russian expansion throughout central Asia. However, Western colonization is considered by historians to be the most damaging, which included the efforts of the maritime European nations. Modern state colonialism started in the fifteenth century, led by the Portuguese and then by the Spanish exploration of the Americas, the coast of Africa, the Middle East, India, and East Asia. During the late 16^th and 17^th centuries, the British, French, and Dutch established their own empires.

The British Empire was particularly ambitious, as can be seen by its immense impact on the world and history. Closely aligned to their rule on other nations is the Industrial Revolution, which was spread to each nation they colonized, some of which can be seen below.

Countries Colonized by the British

Singapore

The Subcontinent

Australia

Canada

Hong Kong

South Africa (and many North African countries)

New Zealand

Naturally, when a foreign invader colonizes a land, it has an economic, political, and cultural impact. An existing nation with its own traditions, cuisines, rituals, beliefs, and languages would experience an indefinite change and these can be considered as positive or negative depending on who one asks. The English language was introduced in the Indian sub-continent for administration, trade, business, etc. And with the developments and technology that came with the Industrial Revolution, English became essential in usage. It was introduced in schools and colleges as a second language but now it has become a medium of instruction. Undoubtedly, British colonialism had its impact on the Indian sub-continent.

Everyday Life

However, some examples can be seen in our everyday life as well, how fluency in English may score you a higher chance to land a job or gain respect. It is a symbol of status, and while on the outside, this is not too bad, but, the native language of a country is then degraded or seen as less than, and it creates a self-conscious society, based on self-hatred for their native roots. It is seen as backward and illiterate to only be able to speak Urdu in Pakistan, there isn’t much respect for the language as there is for English which we all do not realize stems from neocolonialism and is basically the aftermath of a previously colonized society.

Colonization in its Initial Stages

European colonialism began in the fifteenth century and reached its culmination point in the late nineteenth century. At the height of European colonialism, more than three-quarters of the earth belonged to the European countries–Britain, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Germany. These colonial powers were interested in increasing their own political power and exploited the colonies‟ resources. At the same time, they were forced to give up their cultural heritage and assimilate to the colonizers’ culture. This strategy is known as culture colonization which means manipulating the colonized peoples‟ minds. The colonial powers believed that a colonized nation that implemented and admired western culture would no longer resist the colonizers’ occupation. In British colonies, for example, the colonized population had to convert to Christianity, learn the English language and read English literature in schools. Consequently, they adopted western values and the colonizers were able to rule by consent rather than violence. Colonial powers always argued that third-world countries were inferior and needed western help and assistance in order to gain moral integrity and economic wealth. They treated indigenous people as uncivilized barbarians and these racist stereotypes of colonial discourse can still be found in science and technology, literature, and mass media

Effects of Colonization

In the Indian Sub-Continent

In the sixteenth century, European powers began to occupy the Indian sub-continent mainly Portugal, the Netherlands, France, and England. In 1756, The British East India Company was founded and later they expanded their supremacy over India. The English language was introduced in the Indian sub-continent for administration, trade, business, etc. Concerning the integration of western values in Indian culture, it is conspicuous that the British influence is still omnipresent in the Asian sub-continent. The reason for this can also be found in the persistence of the English language. Many Indians are conversant with the English language because the British colonialists intended to export their values and culture by teaching the Indian population their language. British colonialism had impact on Indian literature and education. Indian writers began to write poetry, short stories, and novels in English.

In Africa

From the seventeenth century to the twentieth century, the African continent was with different pieces representing the colonial possessions of various European kingdoms including France, England, Germany, and Belgium. During this period, until World War I, European powers jumbled to divide Africa. When the Europeans subjectively divided Africa, it was with no concern that native tribes and language groups were being separated into different colonial settlements which sometimes contained enemy groups. Colonialism also resulted in ethnic violence by introducing the concept of social hierarchy. A current example of these long-lasting effects in the present day is the well-known conflict between the Tutsi and Hutu tribes in Rwanda which was created and eventually exacerbated by colonialism. A long-lasting impact of colonialism in Africa is racial oppression particularly in South Africa where the colonizers followed the system of apartheid, which just recently ended. Apartheid was a legal racial segregation system in South Africa based on traditional tribes. They were segregated based on race and native blacks were excluded from citizenship and forced to live on government-appropriated lands based on tribe. Whites were given superior education, housing, jobs, and medical care. The system was completely illogical, with ten percent of the population controlling the other ninety percent, but the process was purely colonial in its roots. Widespread poverty and unequal distribution of wealth is another long-lasting impact of colonialism in Africa. Of course, the European influence was not entirely without benefit: in fact, colonialism introduced the modern education system, medicine, and infrastructure. Particularly in the British colonies, English was introduced in the major part of Africa. Later, the countries that followed the English language, became powerful countries because they had relations with Britain, America, and the Indian sub-continent and used the technology, science, medicine, the education system of western people. Now, other countries in Africa, ruled by France, Germany, Spain, are also following the English language in education, trade, business, science, and technology. In this way, Africa had the impact of European colonization.

Caribbean Islands and South America

Like Africa and the Indian sub-continent, Caribbean islands and South American colonies were also influenced by European colonialism. In British colonies, the English language was introduced in education, administration etc. America, Australia, and Canada had the same impact of colonialism and finally, they adopted the English language as their mother tongue. The dominance of English was remarkable during British colonialism and the imperialism of the English language is still evident in the modern world followed by colonialism.

The first Caribbean islands to be settled by the British were St Kitts (1623/4) in the northeast and Barbados (1627) in the southeast corner of the Caribbean Basin. When this island filled up, English speakers left for other locations, especially for Jamaica after it was taken by the British in 1660. Initially, the Caribbean was populated by whites, during the so-called ‘Homestead Phase’, later by blacks taken from West Africa as slaves and transported across the Atlantic along the infamous Middle Passage. Many other smaller islands were populated by English-speakers and many changed hands between the colonial maritime powers, namely England, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Most of these islands gain their independence in the mid-20th century. In the late 17th century a number of Caribbean slaves were transported to the south-east of the United States to work on the large cotton plantations. Later slaves were transported directly. The system of slavery lasted until the end of the American Civil War (1860-65).

Emigration to the United States

During the 18th century upwards of a quarter of a million Scots and Ulster-Scots emigrated to the east of America. They settled in states along the coast from Pennsylvania down to South Carolina. Many of them also settled in the Appalachian Mountains and the speech of this region shows many traces of Scots input to this day. Later in the 19th century, many millions fled Ireland as a result of famine (e.g. the Great Famine of 1845-8). These largely Catholic emigrants settled in the cities of the northeastern United States, such as New York and Boston. Because they were considerably later than the Scots their speech did not have a comparable effect on American English, though locally there are traces of this Irish English input.

The Southern Hemisphere

The Anglophone southern hemisphere consists primarily of South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. These are countries where ‘settler English’ continues. Irish input to South Africa was minimal but quite significant in Australia where many Irish were deported in the early days of the country as a penal colony (in the later few decades of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th centuries). Later there was normal emigration to Australia and to New Zealand where mass emigration began after the treaty of Waitangi between the British and the local Maori in 1840.

Australia and New Zealand

Both Australia (1788) and New Zealand (1840) had mostly English input with some Scottish and considerable Irish input (between 25% and 30% of the original settlers). However, their speech was not continued at either location, probably because of the dominance of English speech models, given that both countries were colonies of Britain. Today Australian and New Zealand English sound like southern British English.

A Deeper Insight

Phillipson (1992) views the spread of English as a global language as repressive since it not only substitutes and displaces other languages but also imposes new mental structures on learners. These mental structures are possibly the ideologies that westerners use to justify their own culture and impose these ideas on others. He sees English learning and culture as inseparable, given that he sees modernization There is a growing realization that English is adopted by people who speak it as a second language and not as something being imposed from the outside anymore.

English not only improves employment prospects locally but also in the Overseas Filipino Worker system. The Philippines has also established a good reputation in the software business and is also a part of globalization which is no longer restricted to tangible goods and natural resources, but also increasingly to human capital in which English plays an important role. The countries Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Korean countries are also using English widely in their communication, education, etc. China, Russia, and Japan are also learning English and using widely keeping in view the great demand for the English language at the international level.

English Language Imperialism Today

Imperialism means a system in which a country controls other countries. In the same way, linguistic imperialism or language imperialism is a linguistic concept that involves the transfer of a dominant language to other people. The transfer is essentially a demonstration of power and aspects of the dominant culture are usually transferred along with the language. British colonialism spread English across the globe and America is trying to impose English on this world with its modern imperialism today. This is called English linguistic imperialism.

Conclusion

Thus, colonialism influenced the world and changed drastically in terms of culture, education, science, communication, etc. British colonialism introduced the English language in the countries ruled by the British and now it has become a global language with the roots of British imperialism in the past and the modern imperialism of America. Moreover, English is a very easy, flexible, and adaptable language when compared with other languages such as French, Spanish, German, Chinese, and Russian. When the question of the future of English arises, there is no clear answer because the impression of the English language is indelible in this world. Thus, colonialism influenced the world and changed drastically in terms of culture, education, science, communication, etc. British colonialism introduced the English language in the countries ruled by the British and now it has become a global language with the roots of British imperialism in the past and the modern imperialism of America. Moreover, English is a very easy, flexible, and adaptable language when compared with other languages such as French, Spanish, German, Chinese, and Russian. When the question of the future of English arises, there is no clear answer because the impression of the English language is indelible in this world.

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