English Language as Hydra: Its Impacts on Non-English Language Cultures (Linguistic Diversity and Language Rights, 9)

English Language as Hydra argues that, far too often, the English language industry has become a swirling, beguiling monster, unashamedly intent on challenging local lingua-diversity and threatening individual identities. This book brings together the voices of linguists, literary figures and teaching professionals in a wide-ranging exposé of this enormous Hydra in action on four continents. In far too many places, the worldwide trade in English-language teaching, testing and publishing has become a self-perpetuating, self-congratulating, neocolonial monster ... a veritable multi-headed Hydra. Too often the English language industry aggressively promotes itself as some sort of “uplifting”, “essential”, “proper” or even “better” means of communication than any other language. Unfortunately, its relentless global outreach is taking place at the direct expense, and the active denigration, of local and regional languages – not to mention individual identities. English Language as Hydra brings together the voices of linguists, literary figures and teaching professionals in a wide-ranging exposé of this monstrous Hydra in action on four continents. It provides a showcase of the diverse and powerful impacts that this ever-evolving, gluttonous beast has had on so many non-English language cultures - as well as the surreptitious, drug-like ways in which it can infiltrate individual psyches. In far too many places, the worldwide trade in English-language teaching, testing and publishing has become a self-perpetuating, self-congratulating, neocolonial monster - a veritable multi-headed Hydra. Too often the English language industry aggressively promotes itself as some sort of "uplifting", "essential", "proper" or even "better" means of communication than any other language. Unfortunately, its relentless global outreach is taking place at the direct expense, and the active denigration, of local and regional languages - not to mention individual identities. English Language as Hydra brings together the voices of linguists, literary figures and teaching professionals in a wide-ranging expose of this monstrous Hydra in action on four continents. It provides a showcase of the diverse and powerful impacts that this ever-evolving, gluttonous beast has had on so many non-English language cultures - as well as the surreptitious, drug-like ways in which it can infiltrate individual psyches This book argues that the English language industry has become a swirling, beguiling monster, unashamedly intent on challenging local lingua-diversity and threatening individual identities. It brings together linguists, literary figures and teaching professionals in a wide-ranging expose of this enormous Hydra in action on four continents.