LANGUAGE IN INDIA

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Volume 25:11 November 2025
ISSN 1930-2940

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Neoliberalism and Plurilingualism: Global Role of the English Language

Dr. Narendra Ranjan Malas

Abstract

This paper argues that the global spread of the English language and the evolution of diverse versions of the language, sometimes labeled as Postcolonial Englishes, World Englishes, New Englishes, etc., promote the goal of global capitalism and free flow of economy in the era of neo-liberalism. Today, English has evolved into various regional varieties across the world with distinct, indigenous identities. These nativized forms of English shattered the concept of a single, universal English. The emergence of new varieties of English produces a kind of linguistic fluidity which results into the expansion of the communicative space for English and perpetuation of linguistic imperialism. These fluid language users of English do not adhere to a didactic mono-model of the English language but accept plurilingualism by combining elements from dominant forms and nativized versions of the language. This plurilingualism paves the way for economic power flow across the countries included in the communicative sphere of English. Thus, plurilingualism, which has become an integral part of cultural and linguistic imperialism is at present in the service of neoliberal economic interests. This paper examines briefly some aspects of various versions of the English language across the world and argues how these Englishes are used as linguistic capital in promoting the neoliberal agenda by administering linguistic competence to non-native speakers of English and making them 'fit' citizens in the neoliberalist world of free market economy. This paper also focuses on the role of language in the world of trade and commerce and how English is imbued with more economic power than other languages and is the preferred linguistic currency in the neoliberalist regime.

Keywords:Indigenized Englishes, neoliberalism, linguistic imperialism, globalization

Introduction

For the last few decades much attention has been drawn in scholarly discussions towards the emergence and evolution of diverse versions of the English language. They can be identified by their distinctive linguistic features. This paper examines the global role of these Englishes in the era of neoliberalism. Regionally appropriated, indigenized versions of English are used extensively across the world in their own rights. These new Englishes promote the goal of global capitalism and free flow of economy. Different varieties of English produce a kind of linguistic fluidity resulting into expansion of the English-speaking world. The increasing number of English speaking/using people across the world paves the way for free market policies of neoliberalism. The plurilingual approach of users of English makes the different varieties of the language mutually intelligible and fulfils their communicative purposes. This paper argues that English as the dominating global language serves the interest of neoliberal market policies. Markets are socially produced and based on social, political, and economic practices. Language is also a social product, and it has intrinsic political and economic resources. As such language plays an integral role in the neoliberal economic framework. The neoliberal free market policy requires mass communication practices for the free flow of capital, labour, resources, trade and commerce. English is the most preferred world language at various levels of business and communication. The expanding communicative space for English perpetuates linguistic imperialism and promote neoliberal agenda.

Emergence of Englishes

The English used in Great Britain and in the United States has been studied elaborately. But now-a-days such studies include these new varieties of English outside Britain and America. The local and indigenous population “have adopted and appropriated the English language for themselves, thus contributing to its diversification and the emergence of new varieties” (Schneider, 2007, p. 1).

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Dr. Narendra Ranjan Malas, M.A., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of English (UG & PG)
Ramananda College
Bishnupur, Bankura, West Bengal,
Pin-722122
nrmalas@rediffmail.com
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