Articles

Political Economy and English as a ‘Global’ Language

---

Abstract

The under- (or non-) specification of terms such as globalization and neoliberalism in the sub-field of Language Policy leads to disputes and contrary positions on important issues where there might otherwise be greater agreement, or at least a basis for identifying common ground. This, in turn, could lead to a greater possibility of consilience, a term coined by biologist E.O. Wilson (1998), in which “principles from different disciplines…form a comprehensive theory” (Merriam-Webster dictionary). This article argues that Language Policy scholars’ lack of sophistication in political economy impacts their ability to critically address the effects of neoliberalism on language policies and practices in many parts of the world today, including in high-income countries. Furthermore, a greater understanding of how globalization interacts with national economies—and how those interactions may influence both the trajectory and fate of languages—might serve as a starting point for new research directions in the field of language policy and planning.

Keywords: globalization, neoliberalism, language policy, English as a Lingua Franca, social justice

How to Cite:

Ricento, T., (2012) “Political Economy and English as a ‘Global’ Language”, Critical Multilingualism Studies 1(1), 31-56.