Blog-pression

I sit here pounding my head trying to find the inspiration to write, but I find myself utterly depressed in cyberspace. I don't know why. Part of it maybe contributed to not knowing how I am excelling in this abstract world. Part maybe contributed to the infinite amounts of info lodged in my brain; pages of reading trying to escape its way to printed thought. The easiest path to take shall be to address a single chapters to prevent overload, even though it will cause me to prolong my existence in a cyber-world.


Sommer addresses the issue of language and culture identity, as it has played out through societal histories. The positive aspect of language is that it helps forms a sense national identity; i.e, French, German, English, etc. This national identity helps end fights within internal political and Territorial boundaries; however, it creates more of a problem outside these areas.

This can be seen in colonialism, where language difference becomes grounds to conquer other cultures. This view has also been seen in the Manifest Destiny policies of the American Government interactions with the Native Americans. Furthermore, this heightened sense of nationalism led to World War I.

Nationalism also led to the concept of viewing bilingualism as a negative skill. This turned around shortly after World War I; part of me believes this is the dawn of globalism, because America could no longer maintain an isolationist policy. Furthermore, as Sommer points out, people learned other languages as a method of survival; especially, during the chaos of World War II.

Ironically, there is a split in today's society. Bilingualism is viewed to be positive within the concept of a global economy; however, negative within the confines of the United States. I make this claim referencing hostilities in immigration issues, as well as laws trying to make English the only form of language used in public education.

It's late, and I think I've addressed everything for the third time (lost internet connection and had to retype); more post will come tomorrow as I finish the readings (or should I now say today). I'll try to contain my own personal commentary and stay closer to textual content in the future.