Language Choice leading to Linguistics and Cultural Imperialism in Bangladesh: An Empirical Study

With the rising importance of English, an index as well as an instrument of global domination, it curtails the developments of other languages marginalizing local needs, cultures and traditions. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the gradual displacement or replacement of the main language(s) like Bangla of the ‘Periphery’ (non-native English speaking countries) due to the dominance of English, a language of the ‘Center’ (native English speaking countries). The language(s) of a country are directly associated with its culture, and a language can never be thought of without culture; they are interlocked with each other. Where the first one goes, the latter one prevails. Thus, the excessive use of English in the ‘Periphery’ marginalizes indigenous traditions and cultures. Bangladesh, a developing country of the South-Asian region with a long colonial legacy, is not free from the dreadful clutch of English as it is chosen and welcomed here with warm greetings. This study shows how our language choice of English, disregarding our mother-tongue Bangla, fosters Western culture undermining age old Bangladeshi culture and tradition. This research work is both quantitative and qualitative in nature and adopts a survey method for data collection. Through a structured questionnaire and following the random sampling technique, this study collects data from 900 (nine hundred) students from 10 Englishmedium schools and 15 private universities situated in major cities (Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal) in Bangladesh. Besides, the study collects data from 100 (one hundred) teachers from 15 educational institutions (English medium schools and private universities) across the country. The questionnaire designed for teachers includes both closed-ended and open-ended questions in order to draw a general view of the subject being investigated.The findings reveal that both teachers’ motivation and familial reinforcement to use English inside and outside the classroom work as a catalyst to cultural imperialism. Majority of the participants prefer to use English and to interact in it while using social media because it makes them feel superior to the Bangla speaking users and strengthens their fashion sense. In the findings, it comes to light that English language and culture have a prominent influence on their day-to-day life. The students of English-medium schools and private universities through their use and choice of English patronize Western culture instead of Bangladeshi culture. Thus, they are gradually becoming mere puppets of linguistic and cultural imperialism at the expense of their glorious mother tongue and long celebrated cultural and traditional values. The study concludes with a call for a balanced language policy and planning that can bring about a healthy combination between heritage and modernity. It is recommended that thegovernment along with the language policy makers should seriously focus on how the native culture as well as the target culture can be represented in a more sensible and balanced way. Keywords: language choice, English-medium schools, private universities, linguistic and cultural imperialism, language policy and planning, Bangladesh

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