Linguistic Dominance Case Study

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School

Monroe College *

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Course

INTERNATIO

Subject

Linguistics

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

4

Uploaded by AgentWalrus4010 on coursehero.com

1 LINGUISTIC DOMINANCE The widespread use of English in professional settings can work against some non-native speakers, especially in emotionally charged situations heavily dependent on context (Deresky & Miller, 2022, pp. 130-131). A Financial Times’ reader's comment in 2016 highlighted how linguistic mastery, such as appropriate use of cynicism and sarcasm, can provide native English speakers with an unfair advantage in conversations, potentially influencing career trajectories (Skapinker, 2016). Many non-native English speakers can relate to this sentiment, but a poignant example is that of Steve Biko, the apartheid era South African student leader, who despite his excellent English, felt intellectually inferior when conversing with articulate native speaker who had a better grasp of the cultural notions of English (Skapinker, 2016). Percy Barnevik, the former CEO of ABB, also warned against equating fluency in English with intelligence or knowledge. The main focus of the Financial Times article is trying to understand if native English speakers purposefully try to dominate conversations by using niche sarcasm and cultural references. Skapinker (2016), spoke to two non-native English speakers who offered their perspective. Quentin Toulemonde, a Frenchman in London's financial sector, suggested that non- native speakers may strategically feign misunderstanding to disrupt their counterparts. Ivan Tejeda, a Spanish reader with work experience in various countries, emphasized the importance of learning local culture to improve communication skills. He suggested that empathy, rather than deliberate sarcasm, may be at play in English-speaking dominance (Skapinker, 2016). While the two readers in question demonstrate excellent English proficiency, they may not represent the broader population in international companies. There are many occurrences of native English speakers trying to assert dominance through language, particularly in non-business and social settings, to varying degrees of success. Communication with non-native speakers is considered a
2 LINGUISTIC DOMINANCE learned skill that calls for patience and adaptability (Skapinker, 2016). I believe native English speakers tend to underestimate the extent to which they subconsciously use linguistic mastery, which often leads to misunderstanding that may be perceived as cruel or overly sarcastic. Therefore, it is crucial to develop effective communication skills and a basic knowledge of linguistics (on both sides), such as rephrasing certain idioms and paying more attention to body language in order to interact successfully with non-native English speakers (Skapinker, 2016). In regard to Steve Binko’s quote “ You may be intelligent, but not as articulate”, we must delve into his background as an anti-apartheid activist in South Africa during the 1960s and 70s, before his death in police custody in 1977 (Skapinker, 2016). The aforementioned quote highlights Biko’s frustration with dynamics of power and communication in society at the time because Biko spoke perfect English despite it not being his mother tongue. Despite this, he often felt he was at a disadvantage when engaging in important political discussions with native English speakers who were more articulate and well-educated, but perhaps not as intelligent as Binko (Skapinker, 2016). These interactions made Binko realize that no matter how intelligent he was, his lack of cultural fluency led others to perceive him as less intelligent. The quote “ You may be intelligent, but not as articulate” encapsulates the broader struggle faced by activists in apartheid-era South Africa who felt held back by linguistic and cultural barriers that reinforced communication and power imbalances. The differences between “intelligent” and “articulate” lie in one’s ability to assimilate into a culture and use mastery of linguistics to one’s own advantage. This does not mean giving up on your own culture, but rather shows a commitment to analytical thinking, understanding complex concepts, and capacity to adapt, learn, and hold multiple truths at the same time. Intelligence and articulateness often complement each other and you cannot have an impactful
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