Introduction: The Invisible Grip of English

English connects the modern world. It links countries, fuels trade, drives technology, and lets nations talk to each other, even old rivals. We use English to discuss our past, manage our present, and plan our future. Knowing English often seems necessary for education, jobs, and a better life.

But this usefulness comes at a price.

English is not a blank slate. It carries the history and culture of the main English-speaking countries: the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. This history includes colonialism, which was often brutal. The language reflects their assumptions, their biases, and their versions of history. If we are not careful, the very language we use to connect and learn can quietly steer our thoughts. It can shape what we see and how we act, often harming us while helping those English-speaking societies.

We adopt their ways of thinking, sometimes without realizing it. We might see other cultures, even our neighbors, through their eyes, colored by their old prejudices or current goals. The news we read, the movies we watch, the websites we visit, the software we use – most come from these English-speaking societies. They reflect their viewpoints and are often designed to appeal to them first.

This book argues that using English without thinking carefully can poison our view of the world. It can twist our understanding of history, lower our self-respect, and even turn us against our own interests. It explores how the English-speaking world’s story spreads through the language itself. It aims to help you become a more mindful user of English, able to reclaim your own perspective, confidence, and dignity.

New ideas, especially in technology and artificial intelligence, often appear first in English. This creates a growing gap between English and other languages, making it harder for speakers of other languages to stay current. Furthermore, most popular websites and social networks operate from English-speaking countries. They naturally tend to reinforce the viewpoints, values, and economic models common in those societies.