Preface

Let me be clear from the outset. This book is written, first and foremost, for the peoples of the world who live and work within a global culture largely defined by another’s terms. It is written through a specific lens: that of a world where English was first introduced as the language of a colonial power, yet later adopted as a language of liberation and global connection. This perspective is shaped by the complex legacy of empire—a view from a place that has had to navigate the crosscurrents of Anglophone culture without being entirely of it.

Because of this, I must make a foundational claim: no single culture owns a global language. A shared language is a protocol, an infrastructure for communication. Its power comes from its shared nature, and it cannot be controlled by one culture, any more than the protocols for the internet can be monopolized by a single user. To believe that one culture is the sole arbiter of this language is to cling to a colonial ghost.

This does not mean this book is not for readers in the Anglophone world. On the contrary. For you, this book is not a tool, but a mirror. It is an opportunity to see how the cultural assumptions you take for granted are experienced by the rest of the world. It is a chance to understand the vast and often invisible gap between your culture’s self-perception and its global impact.

And for those among you who agree with the goal of building a shared global conversation—one that respects the peoples, interests, and needs of all societies—this book is an invitation to become a partner in that work. It is a journey to decolonize our digital present, and an invitation to ask: What does the world look like when all the users of its shared protocol are allowed to shape the message?