LANGUAGE AND POWER FROM EMPIRE TO GLOBALIZATION

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyse the role of English language in the formation of British Empire in the light of discourse and power by Michel Foucault and hegemony by Antonio Gramsci. Languistic studies, works of literature and art have been studied in isolation from political discouses, power relations on the grounds that they are personal, individual or trancendental fields. The process has been overturned following the prevalence of the concept of Orientalism –a concept put forward by Edward Said to describe the image of East in the Western literature andculture which was, then, evolved into postcolonial studies. Due to the reception of Orientalism and postcolonial studies the role of language, literature and art in the formation of ruling power, national state and national identity have been Reconsidered. In this context, the most striking examples are undoubtedly in the process of exalting British language and literature and presenting it as the only alternative, furthering, and sometimes disregarding, other languages, arts and cultures in the formation, strengthening and conquest of the British Empire.

Keywords

• English,empire,language,hegemony

İMPARATORLUKTAN KÜRESELLEŞMEYE DİL VE İKTİDAR

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın konusu, İngilizcenin Britanya İmparatorluğunun oluşumundaki rolünü,  Antonio Gramsci’nin ortaya attığı hegemonya  ve  Michel Foucault’nun söylem ve iktidar konusundaki  görüşleri ışığında ortaya koymaktır. İngilizce de dahil olmak üzere dil, edebiyat ve sanat incelemeleri uzun süre,  hümanist nitelikte oldukları gerekçesiyle politik söylemlerden ve iktidar ilişkilerinden bağımsız;  öznel, bireysel, özel veya evrensel ya da aşkın alanlar olarak incelenmişlerdir. Bu durum özellikle Oryantalizmin edebiyattan başlamak üzere süratle sosyal bilimlerde ve diğer alanlarda etkili olması ve ardından postkolonyal çalışmalara evrilmesi ile birlikte, iktidarın ve ulus kimliğin, ulus devletin oluşumunda dil, edebiyat ve sanatın rolü ve ilişkisi yeniden değerlendirilmeye konu olmuştur. Bu bağlamda hiç kuşkusuz en çarpıcı örnek, Britanya İmparatorluğunun oluşumunda, güçlenmesinde ve ele geçirdiği topraklarda varlığını sürdürmesinde diğer dilleri, sanatları ve kültürleri ötekileştirerek, dahası itibarsızlaştırarak ve kimi zaman da yok sayarak İngiliz dili ve edebiyatının yüceltilmesi ve tek alternatif olarak ortaya koyma sürecinde yer almaktadır. 

Keywords

• İngilizce,,imparatorluk,dil,hegemonya

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