Language, culture, and higher education

This chapter overviews the current literature on the complex interplay between language, culture, and higher education, drawing from various academic disciplines. It critically analyzes the indispensable role of English in worldwide knowledge dissemination, acknowledging its liberating potential while also critiquing its inherent hegemonic influence that often perpetuates colonial legacies, cultural othering, and stereotypes. Linked to this, the chapter further argues for rejecting essentialist, ethnocentric perspectives on language and culture, calling for adhering to transcultural and translanguaging approaches. Through historical and theoretical analyses, such approaches are viewed as a more inclusive means for educators to transcend rigid linguistic and cultural boundaries, highlighting the role of English in perpetuating colonial hegemony while advocating for its decolonization in higher education.