Scribd
Upload
27 views2 pages

When The Different Makes A Difference

The document discusses the impact of globalization on language diversity, highlighting how the dominance of English threatens the survival of many indigenous languages. It emphasizes that losing a language results in the loss of unique cultural perspectives and knowledge, as each language contains distinct characteristics and insights. The author argues for the importance of preserving endangered languages through education and revitalization efforts, using Quichua as a positive example of language revival.

Uploaded by

Jorge Raúl Ceballos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
27 views2 pages

When The Different Makes A Difference

The document discusses the impact of globalization on language diversity, highlighting how the dominance of English threatens the survival of many indigenous languages. It emphasizes that losing a language results in the loss of unique cultural perspectives and knowledge, as each language contains distinct characteristics and insights. The author argues for the importance of preserving endangered languages through education and revitalization efforts, using Quichua as a positive example of language revival.

Uploaded by

Jorge Raúl Ceballos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

When the Different Makes a Difference

We are living in a globalized world. Globalization has destroyed the communicational, trading and
cultural boundaries between countries (Maybe you could have expanded the idea of the thesis
statement). Being the USA the globalization leader, it has imposed its language as the tool for
communication and trading. So,(As a consequence) as not to be left out, millions of people are now
speaking or learning English. Feeling that speaking English is having (Given the fact that the use of
the English language...) the tool for economic and social success, many tribal people who have
migrated to urban areas do not longer speak and transmit their exotic languages. They have been
devoured by the English globalized machine but they do not realize what all of us will lose if their
languages die. (It needs to expand the idea of the thesis statement)

If a language dies, the world loses diversity. In other words, when a language dies the world loses
something completely different and irreplaceable. Although there are some underlying
characteristics between (among) languages, (there is no contrast, why although? Rephrase:
Although many languages share similar caracteristics...) each language has its own peculiarities
regarding syntax, phonology, semantics, lexis, etc. Each language is potentially a matter of study for
linguists as it is a reservoir of invaluable information. That is, when linguists encounter an unknown
language, they gather data, analyze it and might use it to create new theories which make the
scientific knowledge move forward so that it can be applied later to improve our lives. (This
sentence is too long)

Losing a language also means losing a unique way of perceiving and describing the world. Any
person who has learnt and acquired a second language knows that to speak (speaking) another
language is to become another person, with a completely new personality (This idea is not very
clear). Just like Mark Pagel says”learning a language brings permanent changes to one’s brain”…and
I would add…and to one’s self. New sounds exploit (explode) in your mouth, new words that
describe events and objects that you did not know they even existed before become part of you. To
learn another language is like waking up a capacity that was dormant inside of you.

Some linguists believe that languages are a living body and that like any living being they undergo a
process of natural selection. They say that those languages that have not evolved and adapted to a
world that is constantly changing, will perish, whether they are eaten by predator tongues or taken
away from their natural habitats. But, unlike any other living being, languages can be resurrected.
That is, if the dodo (it is already extinct) is about to die no CPR will bring him back. If a language is
about to die, it can be brought back to life by teaching it, by recording it, by transmitting it. For
instance, Quichua is the aboriginal language of our ancestors and nowadays is being taught at the
university’s school of language(Which University?). Although Quichua words are part of our land
and of our lives, giving it a higher status by being part of the university curricula, has made it more
appealing to us all and some people are now studying it.

In short, the English globalized machine is devouring its prey languages. Hopefully, you have realized
that the loss of a language is a loss for linguistics and mankind, something all of us should mourn.
Not to let this happen (We have the commitment to prevent this from happening) is a commitment
that we have with mankind and with our ancestors, like what was done (as it was done) with
quichua; the seed has already been planted.
Perhaps you need to state the advantages of globalization in order to make a contrast. All your
arguments are against it and that is fine, but you should have described the arguments of the
other side.

You might also like