A couple days ago, I read about Glottoeconomics method of Language Planning. I was really interested about glottoeconomics term which is said in the book, that “people use a language because they get something from it, not because it is theirs”. It reminds me to instrumental attachment, which stated that “we consider ourselves as a part of a certain language, because we gain some benefits from it”.
I somewhat agree with the upper statements. Yes, we use certain languages due to the benefits we gained from it. I’m an Indonesian, but here, I use English to communicate to others. I also use Indonesian to communicate with people around me. In addition, I use Javanese to speak to my family. I believe that you also use certain languages for your purposes.
And the main purpose is to communicate.
How about the benefits? Sure, communication that would happened between one and others is the benefit. Furthermore, by using certain language, for example English, we may communicate with another overseas. We can get any informations that we may not get in our own language. Anyway, I use English for this purpose. I can’t imagine if I can’t use English. It must be ANNOYING. I can’t read tokyohive if I can’t use English! I can’t read any magazine’s translations about my favourite Japanese artists! For me, unable to communicate with others is annoying.
Besides, a certain language is required sometimes if you want to apply for a job, and it sometimes be an added value for the company you signed in to consider your application. Well, it would be better if you are fluent not only in your first language, but also second language, or foreign languages. I bet you will be the first consideration to the company!
Hey, I discover one more reason of using certain language for getting what we want! You can make friends with another people who are using different languages by using a certain language. It is very common for us to use an LWC (Language of Wider Communication) to make friends overseas, which is English as the first alternative (but not always) of LWC that we can use.
Well, now you know whether you use any certain languages because you gain something from it, which is COMMUNICATION =))
