User:ChristianKoreanAmerican/Linguistic Injustice in Politics

Political factors play an important role in causing linguistic injustice. Politics refers to the governing of individuals or groups. A country's policy affects the citizens’ mindset, which in turn changes how they behave.

Linguistic Injustice In Official Languages
With around 2,000 languages, Africa contains about one-third of the world's languages, including Swahili, Yoruba and Igbo. As a result, Stroud notes, “In country after country in Africa, questions of the official uses and status of national languages are gaining in prominence,” arguing that deciding on one official language could undermine the benefits of the other languages.

In Medieval Europe, regional languages were not accepted as state languages due to the connection between language and culture. Due to the rise of transnationalism and multiculturalism in the 21st century, there is an increase of immigrants who speak their ancestral language as opposed to the state language.

Linguistic Injustice In Imperialism
Colonialism has historic ties to linguistic injustice. According to Roche, "Most language endangerment today can be considered unjust insofar as it is brought about by coercion resulting from structures of recognitive and distributive injustice." In doing so, colonizers overrules the native language with their own culture and languages.

Linguistic Injustice In Court
Accents can cause stereotyping. In the Zimmerman's trial, Rachel Jeantel was discredited on basis of her AAVE speech and voice.