Propaganda to disseminate English as a World Language in the Occupied Ryukyus

This paper presents an analysis of the U .S. armed forces' English language policy for the Ryukyu islands during the occupation era from 1945 to 1972. Leaders of America 's occupying forces promoted English as a means of luring their somewhat reluctant 'subjects' toward a pro-American stance. English could help to rebuild Okinawa and its people according to these leaders. They argued that English is an international language that could connect the people of the Ryukyus to the outside world. Such an approach assumes language as the vessel of culture and knowledge-something that is more or less exclusively defined by the subjugating power. The occupying authorities were almost desperate to persuade the local people to learn English by promoting a world view that incentivized learning English. For example, the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyus published Konnichi No Ryukyu-Ryukyus Today-from 1957 to 1970. The purpose of this monthly magazine was to disseminate the administration 's policies among the Ryukyu people. Articles were mainly written by Ryukyuans. Some articles emphasized that the local people should learm English, a world language, in order to obtain well-paid occupations and to access the 'rich' knowledge of the West. These articles present unique examples of linguistic imperialism whereby those in command of the conqueror's language - in this case English - are promoted as examples, and afforded great advantages