LONG READ: What’s with the hubris of English?
The role of English is intricately bound by a multitude of power relation issues, making it a politically controversial phenomenon. This article will show that the role of English is a political issue, how it has developed into a virtually universal skill to which education is shackled, and how English education and globalisation work hand in hand to further cement the status of English in the world we live in whilst conversely remaining disputed and contended. Subsequently, this article will discuss contested views on language policies and power struggles, as well as the conflict and tensions that ultimately derive from a lack of trust where English has been established. Also, a past Malaysian language policy will be explored to allude to the controversial outcome of using English. Furthermore, accreditation of English in a professional, educational and immigration context will be weighed up. The rise of spoken and written English in Finland leads to a debate in itself. Here, where l