BILINGUALISM AND THE CULTURAL IMPERIALISM OF LANGUAGE

Аннотация

This article examines the relationship between bilingualism and cultural imperialism, highlighting how the dominance of global languages affects linguistic diversity. While bilingualism provides cognitive and socioeconomic benefits, it can also contribute to the marginalization of indigenous and minority languages. The spread of powerful languages through historical colonization, economic influence, and political structures has created linguistic hierarchies that threaten local languages. This paper explores the dual nature of bilingualism, discussing both its advantages and its role in language shift. Additionally, it advocates for policies and community efforts aimed at preserving linguistic diversity and ensuring that bilingualism does not come at the cost of cultural identity. Keywords: Bilingualism, cultural imperialism, linguistic diversity, language shift, indigenous languages, language hierarchy, multilingual education, linguistic preservation, globalization, language erosion