This unit invites students to explore the role language, particularly English, plays in globalisation. It examines some social, economic, cultural, and linguistic implications of English language as it crosses cultural and geographic boundaries and settles down in countries where it is not spoken as the national language. Issues that may be discussed the impact of globalisation on language(s), English in the globalisation era, bilingualism and multilingualism, new and creative use of English in cyberspace and popular culture, cultural identity crisis or renewal, and languages in contact. -- Course Website
Instructor: Dr Zhichang Xu