Impact of Global English on Cultural Identity of UAE

This essay highlights the impact of global English on cultural identity of UAE. It sheds light on concept of identity and culture in today’s world of globalization where world language like English is expanding in a rapid manner destroying the cultural balance of numerous nations.

Running head: HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Human Geography
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Introduction
I believe that emergence of English as a global language, is nowadays deeply affecting
the cultural identity of countries like United Arab Emirates and it can be said that the aggressive
expansion of English language as a global language is affecting the cultural balance of UAE. The
purpose of this essay is to highlight the new set of circumstances in UAE, which added to global
English, aggravates the cultural fragility in the nation. This paper also sheds light on concept of
identity and culture in today’s world of globalization where world language like English is
expanding in a rapid manner destroying the cultural balance of numerous nations.
Discussion
I believe that the 150 years of British rule in UAE has contributed to poor population of
Bedouin tribes, poor condition of the pearl divers and traders and poor economic condition o the
nation. After discovery of oil and subsequent departure of British people from the land of UAE
made the economic development of the country easier and petrodollar significantly gave a boost
to the economy of the nation (Huang 2016). It is seen that for developmental purposes,
government of UAE brought in various English speaking workers from across the world and that
has effectively contributed to the expansion of English language in the nation. I believe that due
to presence of immense expatriate population is a significant contributing factor to the
dominance of English as a global language in UAE. After the year of 1968, United Arab
Emirates in developing in a immense pace and the government is trying to develop the nation
economically and technologically with the help of extremely skilled foreign labors and that is
bringing in a strong presence of global English in the nation.

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Figure: How global English affecting Emirati community
Source: (Hopkyns 2014)
In a survey conducted among the university and high school students and teachers, it was
found that 99% of the students choose Arabic language as their first language and English as
their second language. The regional tribal languages are day by day getting back footed and
advent of western culture is ruining the base of traditional Arabic culture. The result of the
survey is given below;

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Figure: result of a survey
Source: (Mouhanna 2016)
I believe that this result of the survey clearly states that English is affecting the Arabic or
Emirati culture as majority of the participants of the survey confirmed that they believe that
English language is affecting the culture and identity of the overall Emirati culture. In the survey,
some of the participants said that there are some positives and negative sides of the expansion of
English language and western culture in Emirati lifestyle though the negative sides are majority.
I believe that expansion of English language in Emirati culture potentially contributed to
inclusion of various English words in their vocabulary and reduced the importance of mother
tongue in UAE (Zouhir 2018). It is also seen that people following the styles and accents of
British people and that gave birth to a hybrid and imitated culture in Emirates. It can be said that
the Emirati people should not allow English to dominate their culture. The Emirati community
should stress on learning Arabic in their schools and in high schools, the educational boards
should make Arabic paper mandatory. The official language of the state should remain Arabic

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and all the court trials, official works must be done in Arabic for sustaining the old traditions of
the country. It can be said that the culture of UAE must be sustained by the Emirati community
as they should not allow English to invade their culture as it can be looked at as sort of cultural
colonialism.
Conclusion
Thus to conclude, I think, it can be said that the Emirati people should consider the fact
that learning a global language is a positive thing but invasion of a foreign language which can
affect the traditional cultures of UAE is not so good; and that is somewhat degrading to the
beliefs and the basic cultures of Emirati community.

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References
Hopkyns, S., 2014. The effect of global English on culture and identity in the UAE: a double-
edged sword. Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives, 11(2).
Huang, I.C., 2016. ‘Everybody learns English, and so do I’: The dominance of English and its
effects on individuals: What English learning means to college students in Taiwan?. English
Today, 32(1), pp.28-34.
Mouhanna, M., 2016. English as a medium of instruction in the tertiary education setting of the
UAE: The perspectives of content teachers.
Zouhir, A., 2018. Louisa Buckingham (ed.): Language, Identity and Education on the Arabian
Peninsula: Bilingual Policies in a Multilingual Context.