This course focuses on the phenomenon of ‘globalisation’ in relation to language and communication. With the globalization of language comes, primarily, not the proliferation of languages but rather the reification of language in the sense that languages are individuated and have assumed the status of natural, ontological beings. We have witnessed how languages come to be nationalized, denationalized and renationalized; but even contemporary attempts to question, subvert or transgress current language policies, linguistic boundaries and linguistic inequality still seem to be pivoting on language individuation. In this course, we shall look into the constant tension between language, languages and languaging as we negotiate similarities and differences in a global setting – by examining relevant notions such as monolingualism, multilingualism (semilingualism, fake multilingualism, parallel monolingualism, multiple language ontologies), universal language, lingua franca, translation and translatability, translingualism (polylingualism, translanguaging, etc.), and exploring global issues such as the digitalization/technologization of language and literacy, language commodification, as well as the topic of global English(es).  

1. To deliver a historical overview of the globalization of language and the engendered differences between language and languages. 

2. To introduce students to the definitions, rationales, entailments and nuances of several kinds of ‘lingualisms’ that emerged in the global context. 

3. To invite critical reflections on problems or issues generated by the globalization of language. 

4. To encourage students’ active creation of a future vision of global communication. 

By the end of the course, students are expected to 

1. have familiarized themselves with globalization as a phenomenon that takes place in language and communication and simultaneously creates new narratives of language and communication. 

2. understand thoroughly and be able to critique prevalent sociolinguistic concepts related to the globalization of language and communication. 

3. have critically revisited global issues about language that affect their daily lives by applying the concepts they have learnt. 

4. be able to formulate a solid project on the topic of language and globalization, by consolidating their course learning and actively looking into real-life examples. 

The course consists of weekly and mandatory 2-hour lecture sessions. The last two sessions will be reserved for in-class presentations and discussions (more details will be disclosed at the start of the course). There will be no tutorials. 

Readings will be taken out of Harris (1981) The Language Myth, Makoni & Pennycook (2007) Disinventing and Reconstituting Languages, Pennycook & Makoni (2019) Innovations and Challenges in Applied Linguistics from the Global South, Petrovic & Yazan (2021) The Commodification of Language, Johnson & Milani (2010) Language Ideologies and Media Discourse: Texts, Practices, Politics, etc. The course will also make use of academic journal articles. 

Weekly digital readings will be uploaded to the course Moodle page and students are expected to find additional materials via the HKU Library digital databases.