Globalization & Culture

DQs- Chapter 51. Does globalization make people more alike

or different? Is this a good or bad thing?

2. What impact does the MNC media industry have on culture?

3. How does globalization impact languages?

4. What role does culture have in achieving a global consciousness?

What about Culture?AttributesCausal relationshipsSlow to change

Globalization & CultureAbout Culture

Symbolic constructionArticulate informationMeans of self-expression

Done through:Language, music, art, etc.¤

Q 1: More or Less Alike?

Hyperglobalizers: More, and it’s a bad thingHomoginization‘Culture Industry’‘McDonaldization’‘Ethos of Infantilization’¤

More or Less Alike?

Optimists: More, and it’s a good thingAmericanization democracy &

capitalismNew forms cultural expression

‘Glocalization’‘Hybridity’¤

Q 3: Role of MNC Media

Shape identitiesStructure desiresSmall group dominatesAffects values

Weakens civic bondsLess journalistic¤

Languages

How well do you know ‘English’?1. What is the point of this exercise?2. Will these dialects of English eventually

result in different languages?

Q 3: Impact on LanguagesDisagree about directionQuestion dominance of any oneExtinction trend—> chart

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http://www.globalpolicy.org/images/pdfs/Z/languages.pdf

Q 3: Impact on LanguagesYear # of Languages

1500 14,5000 language

2007 <7,000 languages

2100 Predict 50%-90% will disappear-Bt. 700 - 3,500 left

Which languages are disappearing?• Dialects• Waning populations• Indigenous groups

Q 3: Impact on Languages Exploration

Colonization Spanish, Portuguese, English,

French, etc. Migration

Diaspora communities Mix languages

Malta¤

Q 3: Impact on Languages Media

Internet content Instant communication Movies, T.V. shows

Poland v. Germany Use social media to mobilize

Saudis used Twitter to campaign for higher wages

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Q 3: Impact on Languages Education

Discipline jargon Availability of materials Cost of translated materials Dominant int’l scientific, academic

publications German- chemistry

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Q 3: Effect on Languages

GN domination Chinese next?

Are all effects negative? More shared knowledge Greater interaction

Opportunity for increased standard of living Visit any GS country

Learn language of tourists, make $

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Q 4: Global Consciousness

Barriers Cultural imperialism Cultural relativismAdvantages Brings together diverse groups

Social media ¤

074+++++++++++++..

The English Empire

Who, besides Yuanqing, is adopting English in business? What about China?

Nordic, Swiss, now big European MNCs; Japan

Mandarin not likely to displace English Difficult, not keyboard-friendly, 400m

Chinese don’t speak it Chinese firms w/ internal market –

less likely¤

074+++++++++++++..

The English Empire

Why do MNCs want a lingua franca? Recruit globally Reach global markets Global production teams Integrate foreign acquisitions Promotes ‘free thinking’ Faster meetings Neutral language for non-English

mergers

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074+++++++++++++..

The English Empire

What is the downside of English for foreign MNCs?

Hostility toward ‘Englishnisation’ Disenfranchises slow learners Fluent English speakers’ expectations

Japanese boss expected employees to learn on own/ foot bill

English-speaking based MNCs may get complacent

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Recap

Big surprise: No one agrees Hyperglobalizers v. Optimists Mass media rules Languages are disappearing Some gains, some losses English as the lingua franca for

business world¤