Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in a Globalized World: Rethinking Inclusion, Identity, and Cultural Sustainability

Abstract

Globalisation has accelerated global population mobility, transnational employment, transnational entrepreneurship and transnational cultural exchange. The phenomenon of international migration has become widespread, international educational interactions have become frequent, and the strengthening of digital media and cultural dissemination has created unprecedented opportunities for linguistic and cultural exchange among nations, whilst simultaneously presenting complex challenges to language and culture. These include the dominance of one language over others, cultural homogenisation, cultural hegemony and ethnocentrism, conflicts over identity, and the marginalisation of indigenous groups. This paper examines how to strike a balance between cultural diversity and linguistic diversity in the context of globalisation. It focuses on analysing how, in this context, a transition from traditional to modern cultural concepts can be achieved. The traditional view of culture holds that differences in cultural distribution among nations are increasing, and that any culture existing under conditions of self-sufficiency will eventually disappear. In contrast, we demonstrate that social integration leads to cultural convergence. Drawing upon sociolinguistics, cultural studies, cultural anthropology and cross-cultural theory, this paper concludes that cultural diversity and linguistic diversity do not exist in isolation; language serves as a vehicle for culture, and globalisation closely interweaves people of diverse cultures and languages, giving rise to an unprecedented global lingua franca. Particularly in the era of globalisation, the uniqueness of language and culture is not homogenised or diminished, but rather highlighted, empowered and reinforced.