Why "English-language privilege" is really a much greater issue than "White privilege"

[Tooting Carmen]

(1) A monolingual Barbadian or African-American can get by in many more places in the world than can a monolingual Czech or Italian. (2) Monolingual English-speakers, regardless of race or nationality, often have an outrageous sense of entitlement, expecting to be understood anywhere and anytime in a way that no other language-speakers do. (3) Unlike White privilege, which insofar as it exists at all only really applies to certain societies, English-language privilege is pretty universal nowadays and afflicts European nations and non-European nations in roughly equal measure. (4) The issue of language encourages much more self-hatred than does the issue of race, to the point where some self-styled "nationalists" from countries like Germany and Sweden explicitly say they don't care at all if their languages disappear. (5) In the case of non-Western countries, the invasiveness of English is much more detrimental to cultural integrity and self-esteem than are billboards and magazines full of blonde women. (6) In the case of Western countries, the invasiveness of English is much more detrimental to cultural integrity and self-esteem than are a few mosques being built. (7) It is estimated that around half the world's languages will die by 2050.

[Ajeje Brazorf]

Well, I believe that...

[Tooting Carmen]

Well, I believe that...

Well yes, but many English-speakers expect to be understood in their own language even outside the countries highlighted. What's more, even in many of those highlighted countries themselves (most notably India), English is not even the majority of people's native tongue.

[Rædwald]

What about Mandarin speaking privilege?

[Tooting Carmen]

What about Mandarin speaking privilege?

Hardly exists outside China. Leaving aside the absolute number of speakers, it is no comparison whatsoever.

[Rædwald]

Hardly exists outside China. Leaving aside the absolute number of speakers, it is no comparison whatsoever.

So how would you address the issue of English speaking privilege?

[Tooting Carmen]

So how would you address the issue of English speaking privilege?

(1) A vast expansion and improvement in foreign-language teaching in English-speaking countries. (2) International organisations like the UN, IMF, WTO and World Bank, as well as various multinationals, should include far more official languages than is currently the case. (3) Destroy large swathes of the tourism industry globally. (4) Countries should enact similar legislation to that in place in France, where foreign-language music (for that read English-language music usually) cannot be broadcast more than a certain number of hours each week.

[sean]

A monolingual Barbadian or African-American can get by in many more places in the world than can a monolingual Czech or Italian.

Not true.

Monolingual English-speakers, regardless of race or nationality, often have an outrageous sense of entitlement, expecting to be understood anywhere and anytime in a way that no other language-speakers do.

What about monolingual French-speakers then?

Whenever frogs are on holiday they must announce to everybody around them they are French by:

> extreme loud talking
> singing French songs
> refusing to interact with locals and other tourists
> ignoring common sense and decency.

Unlike White privilege, which insofar as it exists at all only really applies to certain societies, English-language privilege is pretty universal nowadays and afflicts European nations and non-European nations in roughly equal measure.

You mean using the English language is racist because it represents colonialism all over the world through linguistic domination?

Go try to teach abroad with any 4 year degree and two widely accepted teaching English as a second language degree or better yet work with a global company that has a base in a developing country and look at the sheer social status you get (in many places you may be on par as a local celebrity).

The issue of language encourages much more self-hatred than does the issue of race, to the point where some self-styled "nationalists" from countries like Germany and Sweden explicitly say they don't care at all if their languages disappear.

Source?

In the case of non-Western countries, the invasiveness of English is much more detrimental to cultural integrity and self-esteem than are billboards and magazines full of blonde women.

Today is 2020.

In the case of Western countries, the invasiveness of English is much more detrimental to cultural integrity and self-esteem than are a few mosques being built.

So you don't mind if Arabic replaces English as the lingua franca of choice, especially when English is the default language of the world, most extensive vocabulary, easiest to learn because no fucking stupid genderisation bullshit.

It is estimated that around half the world's languages will die by 2050.

There are world languages that only a tiny fraction of the world speak. Many of those languages are still not considered "endangered" because they are spoken consistently in homogenous communities and passed from generation to generation with no issue or loss of speakers. That is the situation for those endangered languages.

A vast expansion and improvement in foreign-language teaching in English-speaking countries.

And it simply doesn't work.



So unless Spanish becomes synonymous with economic success and privilege (Spanish is exclusively the language of brown/swarthy people in America lel), nobody will be arsed to learn it and you'll probably end up with a bunch of english-spanish pidgins.

Destroy large swathes of the tourism industry globally.

Tourism industry in Japan was in negative balance for a long time because the country struggled to convert interest from Western tourists into actual visits, read the McKinsey report on Japanese tourism.

Countries should enact similar legislation to that in place in France, where foreign-language music (for that read English-language music usually) cannot be broadcast more than a certain number of hours each week.

Really?

But almost all movies in their cinema are from America. American songs dominate their radios. Many people run around with American flags on their clothes. European kids emulate American negro rappers, staring at their phones, listening to "nigger nigger bitch nigger", watching the Kardashians and Instagramming 5000 variants on a dog filter selfie every day. And that's just Western Europe.

[LostSoul]

I think there is needed some kind of an artificial international language for communication like Esperanto, Volapuk, Ido etc. This is my opinion and I won't change my mind.

[Tooting Carmen]

Not true.

I meant that they can be understood in more places when having a conversation, not that they'd necessarily be more highly-regarded.

What about monolingual French-speakers then?

Whenever frogs are on holiday they must announce to everybody around them they are French by:

> extreme loud talking
> singing French songs
> refusing to interact with locals and other tourists
> ignoring common sense and decency.

Myth. French are better linguists not just compared to the British and Irish but also the Portuguese, Spaniards, Italians, Hungarians and some Eastern Euros. Read the EU's report on "Languages in the European Union".

You mean using the English language is racist because it represents colonialism all over the world through linguistic domination?

In some ways, I am more of a true 'conservative' than quite a few self-styled 'conservatives' here, in the sense I have a genuine respect for cultural and linguistic diversity and believe that, inasmuch as it is possible, humans should be left alone.

Go try to teach abroad with any 4 year degree and two widely accepted teaching English as a second language degree or better yet work with a global company that has a base in a developing country and look at the sheer social status you get (in many places you may be on par as a local celebrity).

That might be as much related to the aforementioned White privilege (which I myself have precisely said is grossly exaggerated and only really applies to specific places) as to English-language privilege.

Source?

Teutone in particular has said this over and over again, and I have opened threads here asking if people regard race or language as more important.

Today is 2020.

Actually, I do agree that Black models are well-represented nowadays. The ones who aren't are Chinese and Indian models, despite making up at least a third of the world's population between them.

So you don't mind if Arabic replaces English as the lingua franca of choice, especially when English is the default language of the world, most extensive vocabulary, easiest to learn because no fucking stupid genderisation bullshit.

(1) The notion that some languages are 'better' than others is subjective bullshit. (2) I've actually thought for some time that the Anglo-Saxon and Arab-Islamic worlds share some parallels - both have a messianic view of themselves where they feel the need, whether for expediency or a strange sense of duty, to impose their language, culture and faith on the entire world. (This is in contrast to the Chinese, who however ruthless and assimilationist they may be at home, for the most part don't seek to impose their language and culture on everyone else in quite the same way).

There are world languages that only a tiny fraction of the world speak. Many of those languages are still not considered "endangered" because they are spoken consistently in homogenous communities and passed from generation to generation with no issue or loss of speakers. That is the situation for those endangered languages.

And it simply doesn't work.



So unless Spanish becomes synonymous with economic success and privilege (Spanish is exclusively the language of brown/swarthy people in America lel), nobody will be arsed to learn it and you'll probably end up with a bunch of english-spanish pidgins.

(1) Not my fault that American culture in particular is so anti-intellectual. (2) Immigration need not be the principal driver of language learning at all - before the late 60's, French rather than Spanish was the main foreign language taught in the US. And if/when China becomes the world power, don't you think that Mandarin will become more important?

Tourism industry in Japan was in negative balance for a long time because the country struggled to convert interest from Western tourists into actual visits, read the McKinsey report on Japanese tourism.

Japan has a healthy manufacturing base, which many other countries really do not, thus they are not so affected by it.

Really?

But almost all movies in their cinema are from America. American songs dominate their radios. Many people run around with American flags on their clothes. European kids emulate American negro rappers, staring at their phones, listening to "nigger nigger bitch nigger", watching the Kardashians and Instagramming 5000 variants on a dog filter selfie every day. And that's just Western Europe.

Aren't you the one who usually rails against such cultural degeneration and debasement?