IDENTITY AND BILINGUILISM: The challenges that imposes globalization

By Caicedo, JEFFERSON

“People think that language is only words, that is not true, language is also culture; it is a way of being.”

Dany Laferrière.

Globalization and bilingualism are two wide debatable issues that are in vogue right now. The discussions carried out regarding these topics go from the very attempt of defining what bilingualism is till the debates about how countries can become globalized, what globalization really means and how to apply this globalization. These are the topics we are going to discuss in this paper. We could not be more convince of the importance to discussing about globalization and bilingualism not because they are related with identity but because they have to do with the education as well as with educators.

The adoption of the Common European Frame Work, established in the article 2 of decree 3870; the Law 1064, which establishes the rules to supporting and strengthening non formal and public educational programs; and the publishing of Estándares Básicos de Competencia en Lengua Extranjera in November 2004, are among the measures taken by the Colombian government in order to make the country become bilingual in the Programa Nacional de Bilinguismo (PNB) frame. Although this is widely known, there are noticeable doubts and concerns within experts in the field and those who are studying on the linguistics area, cultural sectors and obviously, within the communities that see globalization and bilingualism as a threat. The main reason for this is that African descendants, (Raizales and Palenquero from the Caribbean region of Colombia), Indigenous and Rom or Gypsy communities who has their own linguistic traditions, do not see any measure implemented by the government to safeguard and guarantee the promotion and development of their identity.

Consequently with this view, it is necessary to keep in mind that it is through and from the language that people manifest their existence, know and express their knowledge of the world. This discussion is not merely a matter of identity but a matter of recognizing the existence of the other. Therefore, these communities, from their otherness, have to be valued because they also make part be of the historical construction of the pluri-ethnic, democratic and participative nation.

On the other hand, we have a bunch of events that are held in our country e.g. El encuentro de Universidades Formadoras de Licenciados en Idiomas, Cafés Francés, La Rencontre Nationale d’Étudiants Universitaires, among others, in which it has been discussed the process of teaching and learning, pedagogical methods and curriculum planning but few or none debates has been proposed regarding linguistic policies to bring those so-called minority languages to academic world or to promote their existence. Likewise, in a meeting with the Ambassador of The United States of America (Peter Michael McKenley) held in Santiago de Cali in December 2011, he commented that he had been visiting some schools around the country and that he had observed that there was little advance in the English level of students as well in the teachers, which had made him feel great concern. This could be seen as a proof that the PNB is having the results expected. Even though, this seems to be an engine that nobody can stop, mostly when The Colombian nation has just signed a Free Trade Agreement (Tratado de Libre Comercio,TLC) with the EE.UU.

It is true that there have been issued some legislation like the Law 397 which regulates the arrangements about the cultural property; and the Law 1381 of January 25, 2012 (released during the Ministry of Dr. Paula Moreno) about safeguard of the native languages; however, these have been just warm attempts that have not had strong impact on the situation of so-called minority communities.

If laws like the above mentioned were effective and efficient, the organization of events like National Encounter of Students of Native Languages, National Forum of Native Language, Congress of Universities trainers in Native Languages, or International Encounter of Communities with Special Linguistic Traditions were less utopian. Even though, not everything is negative. Measures like the authorization to translate the most representative novel in the colombian literature “Hundred years of solitude by García Marquez” in to the Wayuunaiki language, which is spoken by more than 400.000 people in La Guajira and in the venezuelan state of Zulia can be considered as a good example to follow in order to include these languages in the social life of the country.

It is true; globalization is something unavoidable in today’s world. In order to be competitive, develop our country and get our economy stronger it is inextricably necessary to introduce changes, albeit those changes must not applied neglecting the country inheritance which is one of the most valuable treasure a nation can have.