Language as A tool for Global Integration and Sustainable Democracy: An excursion in Political Linguistics

Abstract

This paper entitled “language as a tool for global integration and sustainable democracy” is approached from a socio-political and linguistic perspective. The objective of this study is to analyse the situation of languages in contact, the function of English in Nigeria, the role of language and literature, and the need for multi-lingual education for sustainable democracy. The author posits that languages are a veritable tool for global integration, and that “Enlishization” of the world leads to linguistic homogeny and hegemony which, in turn, leads to linguicide (linguistic genocide), linguistic imperialism and opportunism. In spite of all these deleterious effects of linguistic globalization on African languages it is incontrovertible that the languages serve both integrative and instrumental purposes.

The paper concludes that for African indigenous languages to be effectively used as a tool for either national or global integration and sustainable democracy, effective language education planning, and more specifically multilingual and multi-cultural education, supported by Universities of Education and Faculties of Education in conventional universities, is imperative.