A Study Of English Diffusion In Asia

Language diffusion is a complex language behavior propelled by multiple factors. It’s difficult to find a universally applicable theory in this field to provide adequate explanations and guidelines. By analyzing the popularization and decline of international languages, this thesis finds that regardless of the splendid civilizations a language might have once nurtured, its diffusion is forever constrained by its competitive power among surrounding languages.Following Li Yuming’s concept of "language competition", and basing the framework on sociology, ethnology, linguistics and communication, the thesis endeavors to construct a language competition theory with 3 components:genesis of competition, the driving force and governance. It also intends to formulate a language diffusion paradigm based on the 11 Asian countries as case studies. The study examines English diffusion in each country in terms of its route, strategy and causes of shifts during the colonial and post-colonial periods, and finds that the rapid English spread was due to 7 modes:demographic mode, military mode, economic mode, educational mode, cultural mode, evangelization mode, and technological mode, apart from soft and hard power conversion strategy. It reveals what English had undergone in these places as an official, second or foreign language against a host of different social backgrounds, geographical conditions, ideology, and language policies and their implementation. It is also found that language disputes mainly arise in countries with diverse cultures, colonial history, intense inter-ethnic conflicts, and dominating monism. English has never been abandoned in these places even though its presence often gives rise to strives for a higher status among respective languages. Instead, English plays a critical role in mediating inter-ethnic conflicts. In addition, it is effective to practice multilingualism and multi-party authoritative governace to bring language disputes under control. Efforts to eliminate linguistic differences tend to stir up language strives or even local wars, exacting a high price in management.The thesis finally suggests a pre-warning mechanism against language disputes to prevent vicious competition in advance, which may strengthen the paradigm put forth as a supplement for the language theory.