With the introduction of the word globalization, the word cultural globalization often appears in various media. This concept needs to be defined from the understanding and meaning of cultural globalization. In addition, English, as a widely used language, should also be paid attention to in the process of cultural globalization.
Keywords Globalization/Cultural Globalization/Global Culture/English
main body
First of all, there are different views on "globalization"
The word "globalization" appeared in western newspapers in the 1980s. After 1990s, UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali declared that "the world has entered the era of globalization". The word "globalization" has been widely used in various fields, and related concepts such as economic globalization and global integration have followed. There are also different opinions on the understanding of globalization. Generally, there are the following understandings:
First, globalization mainly refers to the integration of the world economy, and the economies of various countries are intertwined and integrated with each other, thus forming a global economy as a whole.
Second, globalization not only refers to the globalization of economic life, but also includes the globalization of political, cultural and social life.
Third, there is no unified definition of globalization. Economists, political scientists, sociologists and culturists all explain from their respective fields. Cultural experts refer to the world phenomenon that commercial culture, popular culture and consumerism occupy the cultural market.
Fourth, we should understand the concept of globalization from a deeper level. Globalization describes profound changes on a global scale, which is not a new phenomenon. From the global expansion of capitalism in Western Europe, the international division of labor and the formation of the world economy, the formation of various knowledge systems, the worldwide influence of ideology and religion, to the transnational flow of goods, services, technology, capital, information and personnel and the allocation of resources today, all these are manifestations of globalization (Note: Academic Dynamic Research Group of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, The Research Status of World Economic Globalization, published in the newspaper, 65433. )。
But it is not enough to understand the concept of globalization to this extent. Globalization can be further understood as the process of the development of actors and the establishment of global networks.
The understanding of globalization varies with different meanings. It has been suggested (1) that globalization is a comprehensive, transnational and global force at work. (2) Integration has the meaning of institutional convergence. In fact, there can be no simple world, so we can talk about globalization instead of global integration. (3) Globalization without attributive is inaccurate, because only economic and technological globalization is the realistic trend. Others, such as culture, religion, political system and lifestyle, all influence and absorb each other, but it is impossible to achieve globalization (Note: Zhang Baozhen's Ten Issues to be Studied in Economic Globalization, World Economy, No.9, 1998, p.25). )。
Second, the significance of cultural globalization
When describing the 20th century, Mr. Fei Xiaotong said: "The 20th century is a world-wide Warring States century", and "the future 2 1 century will be a combination of divided cultural groups, forming an international society with the same culture and pluralistic integration. And our current culture is in such a process of formation "(Note: Fei Xiaotong's From Reflection to Cultural Consciousness and Communication, Reading, Beijing: Sanlian Bookstore, p. 1 1, p. 8. )。 I define this formation process as "cultural globalization". The proposal of "cultural globalization" has far-reaching practical and theoretical significance.
First of all, it can help us realize the narrow national cultural protectionism and colonialism.
Second, it broadens the scope of cultural classification.
Third, it is in line with the development and changes in today's world and has realistic guiding significance for our construction.
The rapid development of modern science and technology shortens the space-time distance between people and provides a material basis for cultural globalization. The theoretical basis of this process is the ideal of realizing world peace and common development.
Third, the understanding of cultural globalization
Cultural globalization means that all cultures in the world flow around the world in various ways under the simultaneous action of "integration" and "mutual differences". We might as well call the cultural identity formed in the process of cultural globalization "globalized culture". Understanding the cultural characteristics of globalization is the grasp of cultural globalization.
First, global culture is not "Americanization" and "China" that people are worried about, but the expansion and monopoly of a certain culture. It is not the world's major cultures, such as "Confucian culture" and "Western culture". But the fusion of all cultures.
There are various cultural groups in the world today. In the process of world integration, in order to maintain their own characteristics, self-affirmation and identity, conflicts will inevitably occur, resulting in all kinds of worries and resistance. These contradictions and conflicts are not manifested in the confrontation between one or two cultures, nor are they only related to the main culture. For example, "Japanization" is much more threatening to South Korea than "Americanization". Cambodia is more afraid of "Vietnamese" and Sri Lanka is afraid of "localization". Various "cultural circles", such as "Chinese cultural circle" and "Christian cultural circle", are an imaginary group on the one hand, and create "barriers" between cultures on the other hand, forming a broader cultural monopoly. What we call global culture involves all cultures.
Second, the global culture is not based on the land boundary, but on the cultural subject-human culture.
Toynbee, a famous British historian, put forward the theory of "challenge and response" to explain the emergence and development of national cultures in the world. According to this theory, the culture of each nation is a response to the challenges brought by its environment (Note: Toynbee's Historical Research (I), Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House, p. 109. )。 In other words, the living environment of each nation plays an important role in the emergence and development of its culture. People sum up the cultural differences between the East and the West from different geographical environments. But at the same time, we should realize that with the expansion and complexity of society, cultural differences are more obvious. Even members of the same society will have cultural differences due to individual differences. People from different nationalities, countries and regions can also have the same cultural outlook.
Due to the mutual differences and interdependence between people, the sanctity and universal humanity of human beings have become cultural concepts that can maintain the same sex and consistency of human beings. Such as "democracy" and "freedom" are accepted all over the world. But this does not mean that the global culture will really be unified or assimilated by these ideals, because these cultural ideals are constantly in the process of localization in different countries and regions, thus showing great differences. The "globality" in the "global culture" we talk about emphasizes an extremely broad concept of people, not a regional concept.
Third, the representation of global culture is a dynamic flow, not a static cultural form. It is mainly manifested in the mutual integration of personnel, technology, capital and ideology among various cultural groups around the world.
In this flow, people pay most attention to the infiltration of ideology. For example, opposing "bourgeois liberalization." This global flow of ideas is not a simple process of concept input and output, but must be translated through "cross-culture". This translation process is a process of "cultural digestion". At present, the ideological stream of globalization is mainly the stream of basic values such as freedom, democracy, rights and equality.
Fourth, global culture does not deny the differences between the world's strong and weak cultures, nor does it ignore the cultural opposition between developed and backward countries.
In the cultural globalization, the weak culture is not in a passive position of being destroyed and dissolved. Globalization culture is not a culture in which strong culture assimilates weak culture. Nor is it a culture in which the weak culture is assimilated; It is not the result of the interaction of strong cultures, nor is it an integrated culture based on the "world". Globalization culture is a multi-dimensional and multi-combination form produced by multi-directional cultural flow. Different ways of mobility have different places of cultural existence. Therefore, in this sense, global culture is a kind of multiculturalism. However, even if various unrelated and non-circulating national cultures coexist in the world, it cannot be called global culture. In this mutual exchange, the status of all cultures is equal, and the advantages of all cultures should be fully brought into play, so as to achieve the ideal situation of world harmony.
Understanding this will help us to correctly handle the relationship between national culture and cultural globalization. With the deepening of "cultural commercialization", the influence scope of major commercial countries' cultures increases with the expansion of their own products' share in the world market. Some western countries use this to strengthen the infiltration of their own culture, so as to achieve the purpose of "cultural colonization." But history shows that colonialism cannot solve the problems of cultural existence. In the process of cultural exchange, it is the purpose of our cultural promotion to fully combine and absorb the advantages of local culture and create a harmonious situation.
Fourthly, English in cultural globalization.
The relationship between culture and language is both closely related and different. Language is an integral part of culture, an aspect of culture, but not the whole. Language cannot exist independently beyond culture. The development of culture can promote and promote the development of language; Similarly, the development and enrichment of language is also the premise of the development of the whole culture.
Undoubtedly, the application of English has swept the world and become a veritable "Esperanto". According to the data of a large-scale survey called "English 2000" conducted by the British Council, there are 350 million people in the world who speak English as their mother tongue; By 2000, the number of English learners in the world will exceed 654.38+0 billion; The English teaching industry brings more than 7 billion pounds of tangible and intangible income to Britain every year (Note: Jiang Yajun's What's the British Last Name, Beijing Publishing: Sanlian Bookstore, 1 1 465438+). )。
The continuous internationalization of English will inevitably lead to the rapid localization of English. "Singapore English", "China English" and "Japanese English" have appeared one after another, and "English" has been recognized by many English research experts, and "English is the common wealth of all English users" has been recognized by people. But the question is who is "standard English"? When Oxford English, King # 39; When English becomes a dialect, its status is equivalent to Chinglish. Will English be divided into different languages?
While Britain gains 7 billion pounds a year, it has not forgotten how to stick to this rich natural resource and strengthen the control of English "standards". However, the United States, which once saved Britain's life in the imperial sunset, has stepped up its competition for English. It uses its strong economic support and modern technology to promote "American English" all over the world. Even forcing Princess Diana not to speak pure "Royal English", Prince Charles had to stand up and say, "British English is better than American English. English is in crisis (Note: Jiang Yajun's What's the British surname? ), studying, Beijing: Sanlian Bookstore,1998,65438 +0 1, 65438 +04 1. )。
However, while English is widely spread, it is also accused of "language invasion", "cultural aggression" and "spiritual pollution". When more and more people in China are happy about Hollywood, McDonald's and Disney, but they know nothing about A Dream of Red Mansions and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, people of insight shout loudly "Give me back my rivers and mountains".
The Philippines, which has been promoting English for decades, launched a bilingual policy, 1993, on July 8, stipulating that schools should use two languages for teaching. Philip is used in quality education, sociology, art and so on. Promote local culture and express local lifestyle, while English is used for natural science teaching and international communication. (Note: Jiang Yajun's What's the British Surname? I'm reading it. Beijing: Sanlian Bookstore,No. 1 1,No.1/. )。 But can this really preserve its tradition?
Where will English go?
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