International Journal of Humanities and Social Science

ISSN 2220-8488 (Print), 2221-0989 (Online) 10.30845/ijhss

Globalization, Colonization, and Linguicide: How Ghana is Losing its Local Languages through Radio and Television Broadcast
Kwame Badu Antwi-Boasiako PhD; Kofi Agyekum PhD

Abstract
The importance and effects of colonization and globalization cut across nations. Language is seen as a medium of developing communication across cultures and nations. We examine the impact of colonization on language shift, language endangerment, language extinction and linguicide on languages in the Americas and Africa with reference to Ghanaian languages. The paper looks at the effect of European hegemony on other languages and the areas that are much affected like indigenous languages, culture, religion, education, and the economy. It further miens at methods that should be used to create the awareness of linguicide through linguistic decolonization, language maintenance, and revitalization. It concludes that despite attempts to use the electronic medium for information sharing in local African languages, these have been corrupted by the imperialist languages such as French, English, and Portuguese.

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