Language, Power, Development and Geopolitical Changes: conflicting pressures facing plurilingual societies

Abstract

This article argues that too little attention has been paid to the linguistic diversity of many poor countries by international donor agencies, given that the most plurilingual societies are also amongst the poorest. Now that recognition has been belatedly given to the language issue geopolitical changes are leading to conflicting pressures on governments. On the one hand there has been a steady decline in the number of global languages over the years. This process is likely to increase, especially given the pressures for globalisation and the growth of English. On the other hand there are also pressures to develop local languages. Ultimately decisions about language choice depend upon a mixture of politics, power relationships and cost. The choices facing governments in the poorer countries are becoming more difficult not less, but unless positive action is taken to develop local languages many, along with their communities, will decline.