Linguistic Instrumentalism and Language Commodification

Linguistic instrumentalism refers to viewing language primarily as a tool for practical outcomes, such as employability or economic gain, emphasizing utility over identity or cultural value. Closely related then is language commodification, framing languages as commodities with exchange value (e.g., tourism branding, English and Mandarin Chinese as global 'products' to be bought and sold). Governments and institutions design language-in-education policies based on perceived economic value, privileging some 'marketable' languages while marginalizing others. Language commodification can affect individuals identities, creating hierarchies of 'valuable' and 'worthless' (or at least 'less-valuable') languages, often reinforcing societal inequities. Increased understanding of how linguistic value is produced, circulated, and contested in society will help us critique how economic ideologies impact language learning and use. We welcome abstract submissions related to these concepts.