Introduction to the Concept of Language Imperialism

The branch of sociolinguistics, called linguistic imperialism, focuses on the ways of and reasons for the dominance of certain languages at the international level and tries to substantiate this dominance theoretically. This branch clarifies such important issues as the role of language policy in empires and states of the imperial type, the implantation of the languages of the metropolises on other continents (as a rule, at the expense of local languages); the continuation of the use of European languages, brought by colonial policy to Africa and Asia, as a means of communication after getting rid of the direct colonial dependence; the role of the state exoglossia in ensuring national unity within the former colonies or hindering such unity; using exoglossia as a springboard for pursuing Western interests; marginalization of national citizens who do not speak the language of the metropolis; the continuation of the exploitation of the former colonies through their elites, subjected to acculturation etc.