English as a Medium of Power, Identity, and Resistance in Modern and Postcolonial Literature
Keywords:
English language, postcolonialism, linguistic power, identity, resistance, colonial literature, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’oAbstract
The English language has played a central role in colonial and postcolonial history, operating as an instrument of domination, as well as a tool for identity formation and resistance. This paper examines how English functioned as a medium of power during colonial rule and how postcolonial writers have reclaimed and reshaped English to assert cultural identity and resist imperial narratives. We discuss theoretical perspectives on linguistic imperialism and decolonization (Phillipson 1992; Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o 1986), and analyze examples from notable authors (Achebe, Ngũgĩ, Rushdie, Walcott). English’s global spread and its symbolic value in education and governance are reviewed (Noack & Gamio, 2015). We also present a brief data-driven perspective on English usage and multilingualism, noting that although English is widely studied and spoken, UNESCO reports thousands of languages remain (UNESCO, 2025).
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