The Power and Privilege of Speaking English: Recommended Reads

The English language is often seen as a gateway to opportunity, success, and global communication – but what are the historical, social, and political forces that have shaped its dominance? Who benefits from English as the world’s lingua franca, and who is marginalized by its spread?

This curated list of books explores the complex intersections of language, power, and privilege, examining how English has been used as a tool of empire, a marker of status, and a barrier to inclusion. Whether you’re an educator, student, activist, or simply curious about the ways language shapes society, these thought-provoking reads will challenge conventional perspectives and inspire critical conversations.

Discover works that unpack colonial histories, racial inequalities, linguistic hierarchies, and the ethics of English language teaching, providing deeper insight into how language both empowers and excludes.

Language, Power, and Colonialism

1. Race, Empire, and English Language Teaching – Suhanthie Motha – A MUST read
Explores how English language teaching is shaped by colonial histories, racial ideologies, and global power dynamics, offering a critical lens on educational policies and practices.

2. Linguistic Imperialism – Robert Phillipson
A seminal work on how English has been systematically spread as a tool of political and economic domination, reinforcing inequalities in postcolonial societies.

3. The Imperial Tongue: English as the Dominating Language – Rosemary Salomone
Analyzes how English became the dominant global language and the consequences for linguistic diversity, national identity, and access to economic opportunity.

4. Decolonising Multilingualism: Struggles to Decreate – Alison Phipps
Challenges mainstream narratives of multilingualism and examines how language policies can be reimagined through decolonial perspectives.

Language and Education

5. The Politics of English: South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Asia Pacific – Lionel Wee, Robbie Goh, & Lisa Lim
Investigates the impact of English in postcolonial societies, particularly in education and social mobility, revealing its role in reinforcing class divisions.

6. Bilingual Education and Social Change – Rebecca Freeman Field
Examines how bilingual education policies shape social structures and economic opportunities, questioning the power dynamics of English dominance in education.

7. Language and Power – Norman Fairclough
A foundational text on critical discourse analysis, exploring how language reinforces power structures in education, media, and politics.

Race, Identity, and Linguistic Discrimination

8. English with an Accent: Language, Ideology and Discrimination in the United States – Rosina Lippi-Green
Examines how accent discrimination perpetuates racial and social hierarchies, particularly in education and employment.

9. Raciolinguistics: How Language Shapes Our Ideas About Race – H. Samy Alim, John R. Rickford, & Arnetha F. Ball (Eds.)
Explores the deep connections between race and language, particularly how language is used to construct racial identities and reinforce inequalities.

10. White Linguistics: Racism, Standardization, and the Struggle for Linguistic Justice – Ian Cushing
Critiques how white supremacy is embedded in linguistic policies, academic research, and educational practices.

ESL for Equality