What did medieval linguist Antonio de Nebrija mean when he
told Queen Isabella that: “language is the perfect
instrument of empire?” How has language contributed to colonial
power? Focus on a specific example
Language is power. One of the examples that is used James
Geary in the “Speaking in Tongues” was the method of ‘Russification’ by the
Russian empire. Russification was the motion pushed by the Russian monarch that
all non-Russians and ethnic groups in her country would have to perform a form
of cultural assimilation, in which they would have to give up all forms of
their previous language and culture in favor of the Russian one. James Geary comments
on the repercussions of this methodology by saying “This policy of linguistic and
cultural repression created a generation estranged from its own language and traditional
way of life”. Why have all of histories imperialist empires enforced a policy similar
if not the same to russification?It all
comes back to the statement that language is power. If you are able to have all
the people under your empire abide by the same language and culture, you have
total control. As you have the ability to persuade others, teach others, to
make yourself understood to both foreign and domestic territory, and to win
other to your cause. Russia was filled with multiple ethnicities, languages,
and cultures all accumulated into one country. Hence swift control and order of
practical foreigner’s was an inefficient task. As such Russification was put in
motion in order for absolute control by the Russian Romanov monarchy. The
bishop in the quote understands that Language is a tool to take control of unassimilated
members of an empire, as an empire will never have full control and efficiency
with multiple languages being spoken by its people. Hence, the bishop tells the
queen that language is the perfect instrument of creating an empire.
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