The influence of civilizations in the 15-20^th centuries on Asian languages and its linguistic and philosophical implications¹

A influência das civilizações dos séculos XV-XX nos idiomas asiáticos e suas implicações linguísticas e filosófica

Abstract:

Civilization exerts a profound influence on language, thereby shaping and promoting culture. In the 18th century, Herder acknowledged the historicity of language, contextualizing it within the broader framework of human development and culture. This paper examines the impact of Western-dominated civilization from the 15^th to the 20^th centuries on Asian languages, identifying several key characteristics. Firstly, Asia did not witness widespread adoption of foreign languages on a large scale. Secondly, extraterritorial linguistic borrowing in Asia surpassed intra-regional one, resulting in the emergence of diverse hybrid languages. Additionally, Asia employed various strategies to preserve and perpetuate its languages and civilizations. Language and civilization play crucial roles in mutually reinforcing and advancing each other. Therefore, this paper aims to elucidate the influence of civilization on Asian languages since the Age of Exploration, uncovering the nuances of Asian civilization embedded within it, and exploring the intricate relationship between civilization and languages in Asia.

Keywords:
15-20^th Centuries civilization; Asian languages; Linguistic borrowing; Language status; Philosophy of language