Understanding Anglo centrism

According to Martin and Nakayama (2010), Anglo centrism is the tendency to use white cultural standards as the criteria for interpretation and judgement and behavior of attitudes. Anglo centrism was cited in the early 19th century after the wars that were taking place in US prompted several Congressional acts which separated the government from Indian natives within the country paving way for forceful evictions in their homelands and alienation from the government.

Waves of migration to the US from mainly European countries such as Ireland and Germany, so their people try to protect their language and culture. Immigrants are expected to go into the ‘melting pot’ and come out American. These expectations have continued over the years making it the so — called mainstream culture that everyone is expected to grasp.

There have been tendencies of English speakers steamrolling other speakers. Instances of Americans visit other countries and expecting natives to be fluent in their language. This has steered the world into making it a mandatory language to be studied in several countries. On the flip side, Arabian states specifically countries such as Iran have resorted to cultural hibernation. They have decided to lock out almost all forms of western influences to prevent loss of their culture and languages. Rising instances of violence in this region is due to the oppression of their linguistic fears.

Due to these acts, we have been conditioned to consider English a super — tongue, suppressing our own cultures. In comparison with other languages, over the years English has been more of a language of dominance than that which seeks refinement and sophistication like French.