Why Bother with Languages?

Globalization has been described as the expansion of Western values to a world scale. The planet is now seen in its totality, whether through political and military surveillance, through observation of geological and climatic change, or through massive increase in human trade, communication and travel. One o f the features of globalization is the enlargement of economic zones without this necessarily bringing about the disappearance of borderlands and grey areas. Another feature is the uneven linking of different parts of the world through new forms of communication. The interconnectedness of peoples is often imposed by outside events over which they have little control. Finally, globalization has involved a reappraisal of old antagonisms (religious, ideological or nationalistic)