English Privilege is a Thing

Language serves many purposes. It’s a tool for communication and connection, a means of preserving and transmitting culture, and an expression of both individual and group identity. Language is one of the most fundamental and simultaneously complex aspects of our society, which is why it is necessary to look at our use of language through a lens of justice.

The capacity to acquire language, that is, to internalize grammar patterns and form associations between utterances and objects of reference is an innate human quality. However, no specific language nor way of using a language is innate to humans.

Many of the most spoken languages of the world achieved their global dominance through colonization. English, the most spoken language in the world, spread as the British colonized peoples and subjected them to administration via English. Many of the 35 countries/territories that presently have English as an official language—such as Cameroon, Barbados, Kenya, South Africa, India, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Hong Kong along with many others—are former colonies or current Commonwealth countries of the British. Given the role of language not only as a communication tool, but also an expression of group (read enthnic) identity, we can see the imposition of English not only as an administration tool but also as a form of enthnic domination by the British. Forced language education and restriction of native languages is a common trait of colonizing powers. But even in countries that were not colonized by the British, English has and continues to exert a massive influence on society.

Following the economic and military growth of the US after World War 2 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the US emerged as the single global super power. Without a formidable ideological competitor, neoliberalism (democratic politics and free market economy) spread across the world. Thirty years later, neoliberalism has not led to the equality and prosperity it purported. It has, however, cemented English as the language of commerce, elite education, technology, international politics, and global pop culture.

As mentioned above, the spread of English dramatically increased following World War 2 and the half century leading into the 21st century. English made its first significant entrance onto the Korean peninsula in 1882 with the signing of the Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation between Chosun and the US. As Chosun opened (under force) to the international community, a need for diplomats with English proficiency rose. The increase of foreign English speaking missionaries to the peninsula also increased the inertia of English education. However, at this point English was not an essential part of most Korean people’s lives. Colonization by the Japanese brought with it a Japanese style English education curriculum, characterized by a grammar-translation method taught in Japanese. Following the liberation from Japan, the US established the American Military Administration on the peninsula from 1945–1948. Following the Korean War, the US signed the Mutual Defense Treaty with South Korea in 1953 which not only connected the security politics of the two countries, but also brought American soldiers (along with their language and culture) into the center of Korean social life.

As South Korea’s export based economy grew in the half century following the Korean War, neoliberalism and globalization have taken deep root. Within this context, English grew to be associated more and more with social power and one’s ability to compete economically.

In South Korea, English has come to be a symbol of class and prestige, often removed from its functionality as a means of communication or connection. This can range from benign instances such as decorative storefront signs, to more severe instances such as requiring English test results for jobs that don’t use English.

In 2011, the suicide of four students and a professor at a top ranked univeristy in South Korea was suspected to be linked in part to the pressure brought on by classes taught 100% in English. In 2021, a custodian at another top university committed suicied after being shamed for failing a job assessment test containing English and Chinese questions.

It was suggested that the move to 100% English based university courses was a way to increase the number of foreign applicants and an attempt to keep up with the globalization of higher education. It is increasingly the case that academic competence is measured not only by the merits of one’s contributions to their field of research, but also by how well they can communicate those research findings in English to an international audience. Of course, this creates an advantage for those who acquired English natively and therefore can invest all their intellectual efforts into their field of research without any second thought to the medium of instruction.

In the US, speakers of other languages can face discriminiation for accented English, and judgment for speaking their native language in public. English fluency is regarded as a basic expectation for non-English speakers; whereas bilingualism is only ever regarded as an asset and part of a ‘cool global’ identity for native English speakers. This creates a bilingual double standard where native English speakers are again able to benefit from being regarded as the default.

In the US, most people are only able to speak English, though this demographic is changing as more speakers of other languages migrate to the US and start families. There has been backlash against this demographic change as seen in instances such as a man in a Manhattan restaurant screaming at Spanish speaking staff demanding that they speak English or he would call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A woman in Montana, despite being a US born citizen, was also interrogated by a Customs and Border Protection officer for speaking Spanish.

Despite the fact that both of these white men in the two instances above held the belief that to be a resident of the United States means one must speak English, English is not the official language of the US. The US does not have an official language. When the colonial government was being established, the colonists spoke a diversity of languages including French, Latin, Italian, Greek, and Hebrew.

The colonial and neoliberal history of English has created a hurdle that speakers of other languages must overcome to be heard or to access the highest levels of education, while native speakers enjoy the privilege of knowing (or not having to think about the fact that) their language will be the default common language and the language of many of the world’s most renowned and powerful institutions.

Though we cannot undo the legacy of English dominance and commodification, a focus on language functionality (rather than ideology) may help recenter the original purpose of communication, connection and expression for those learning English. Simultaneously, it may instill some humility and self-reflectiveness in those who have acquired English natively.

The beautiful thing about the fact that no specific language nor way of using a language is innate to humans is that it means we have the power to change how our words are used. If we want our language to be just, democratic, and fair, then we can begin by speaking justly, democratically, and fairly.

This piece was written by Austin Headrick in collaboratation with Passionfruit and originally featured on Passionfruit’s platforms.

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