Curing xenophobia through language

Xenophobia in the United Kingdom, a social problem that has become increasingly apparent in recent years, could be effectively combatted through greater engagement with foreign language education.  

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British officials have long described the United Kingdom as a multicultural society; whilst it is true that over 200 languages are spoken in the capital, it only takes about an hour’s drive in any direction from London to discover an astonishing lack of diversity.

Now, my issue lies not so much in the absence of multiculturalism in rural areas as it does in the claim itself. In my view, the term “multicultural” not only refers to the density of immigrant population but to the success with which local and foreign communities integrate. To me, a multicultural nation is one that accepts all, regardless of race, culture or language. However, considering the xenophobic rhetoric that advanced Brexit amidst demands to “make Britain great again,” can we really call the UK a welcoming nation to foreigners?

Many pro-Brexit politicians have claimed that re-establishing sovereignty has nothing to do with anti-immigrant sentiment, but the fact is that hate crime has been steadily increasing since 2013 and even spiking around the time of the referendum. A survey conducted by Lord Ashcroft similarly showed how 80 per cent of Leave voters considered immigration a “force for ill.” Interestingly, albeit unsurprisingly, if we take  a closer look at the results of the 2016 referendum we would find a correlation between pro-Brexit voters and constituencies with little to no exposure to immigrant communities. Naturally, not everyone is going to have the means nor the desire to move to the cosmopolitan city of London to partake in some informative cultural exchange, so how ought we bridge the gap between natives and immigrants? The answer, I believe, is through language.

It is no secret that the United Kingdom has a low regard for the acquisition of foreign languages. According to a survey published by the European Commission in 2016, a whopping 65 per cent of the people aged 25 to 64 in the UK had no understanding of a second language whatsoever. Compared to the 20 per cent of monolingual Europeans, this statistic is nothing short of embarrassing. Arguably, however, this data comes as no surprise considering the lack of support which the British government has provided towards fostering a bilingual nation. I say this because in 2004 the UK went back on a policy that made the study of foreign languages obligatory until the GCSE level – something that has had a knock-on effect on foreign language A Levels, the popularity of which has decreased by more than 15 per cent since 2010. I myself have often heard comments on how learning other languages is “useless” considering the “whole world speaks English.” Well, dear monolinguals, that simply is not true and to think that English is the only language of relevance in this evermore interconnected world is, quite frankly, small-minded.

The reason why I believe languages are the cure to ignorance is because, unlike what some people may think, learning one is not about reading grammar books and memorising vocabulary,  it is about developing cultural awareness. Taking the first step to mastering a new foreign tongue means having an entire new world open its door to you with all the literature, music, and history it has to offer. Unfortunately, for many people music and literature are not enough of an incentive to start learning a new language. After all, you  do not need to understand music to enjoy it and there are always translations of books. To this I say that the arts are not the only point of interest because the languages themselves harbour many hidden gems. If you think about it, language sets the parameters and borders of expression so learning to speak one means learning a whole new way of thinking! There are many words and concepts which exist in one language that would take an entire sentences to describe in English (and vice versa). Having at least two languages that you can compare and contrast means endless information – not to mention endless entertainment! In the end, what xenophobia comes down to is, quite literally, a “fear of the other” and the only way to combat fear is through knowledge and understanding. Learning a language, therefore, can be a great first step to battling misconceptions, misinformation and thus xenophobia.

Lastly, it is important to note that the United Kingdom is not alone when it comes this strange reluctance to learn new languages. Studies have shown that only 20 per cent of primary and secondary students in the U.S. learn a foreign language whilst, on a similar note, monolingual households make up a shocking 73 per cent of the Australian population. This is, therefore, not just a national but a global issue and one which we should be paying more attention to as we continue to take steps towards creating a more accepting, informed and equal society for future generations.

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