Looking Back, Moving Forward

Abstract

This chapter ties together the book’s themes and arguments with a view toward a shared vision for the future. It concludes that as English weaves its power through the global politics of language, it is creating winners and losers in both expected and unexpected ways. Deciding who falls on either side of that divide demands weighing the gains and losses within and across countries with social class being a constant factor. It suggests that language as an expression of self-realization and a source of material profit can exist side by side. The social, developmental, and economic benefits are not mutually exclusive but rather mutually supportive. In the end, it calls on policymakers at all levels to realize the opportunities and mitigate the damages of a common language, English for now, in all its complexities, while preserving national, regional, and local languages and identities.