Babel: The English language and globalisation, Genesis, 11:1-9
Author Douglas Adams uses Babel as a metaphor to propose a ‘solution’ to ‘the problem’ of multilingualism and of communication –
‘ – the Babel Fish, … is small, yellow and leech-like, and probably the oddest thing in the Universe. …if you stick a Babel fish in your ear you can instantly understand anything said to you… Meanwhile, the poor Babel fish, by effectively removing all barriers to communication between different races and cultures, has caused more and bloodier wars than anything else in the history of creation.’
Equally in our world, global English brings potential for greater destruction and unsustainable practices in the context of globalization.
References:
Genesis, 11:1-9
Douglas Adams 1979 The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. London: Pan
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