Research Article

A Critical approach to the use of English in Turkey in light of linguistic imperialism

Number: 24 September 21, 2021
  • Ali Yiğit *
TR EN

A Critical approach to the use of English in Turkey in light of linguistic imperialism

Abstract

Starting to attain an important international language status in the world from the 19th century onwards thanks to many interrelated factors like British colonialism and later US-Britain cultural policies of expansion, English language has achieved an unprecedented prevalence in usage in different sectors ranging from education to tourism and art to literature and sports. Today, it keeps its reign as an international lingua franca, reinforcing its position by making use of very effective mechanisms of expansion such as globalization, academia, media, music, TV, and sports. This preponderance, or in Phillipson’s words, English linguistic imperialism, however connotes oblivion and even evanescence of vernacular and the inferiorization and hybridization of national languages. As mid-20th century onward, Turkey’s political convergence with the US has brought into the life and language of Turkish people irreversible changes whose critique, as this paper argues, can be made within the concept of linguistic imperialism. Drawing on theoretical approach by Phillipson, this paper thus discusses and critiques the ways English is used in Turkey, in an attempt to draw attention to the attrition in Turkish language, inquination in linguistic landscape, and language discrimination among the young.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Linguistics

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Publication Date

September 21, 2021

Submission Date

May 17, 2021

Acceptance Date

September 20, 2021

Published in Issue

Year 2021 Number: 24

APA
Yiğit, A. (2021). A Critical approach to the use of English in Turkey in light of linguistic imperialism. RumeliDE Dil Ve Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi, 24, 1067-1080. https://doi.org/10.29000/rumelide.990739