Amel Moussa
A Tunisian writer and poet
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Economics Is the Core of Language Strength

Addressing the subject of language is usually associated with culture, which is a natural association, given that language is a component of culture. Rather, language is a determinant of the symbolic construction of the identity of any society.

Historically, the most famous, expansive, and common civilization can make its language dominate the world. Let’s also not forget that the number of speakers estimates the universal value of any language.

Today, however, language is approached differently, far from solely anthropological linguistic slants. In the cultural history of peoples, languages were included in the cultural diversity of humanity. Language is viewed as one of the components of identity. Any nation is keen on preserving its language from melting, blending, and fading.

Nevertheless, this approach has changed in modern days. The link between the place of language in the world and the value of its economy has become very strong. For many decades now, language has been correlated to science. The country that innovates the most has its language dominate the world more than others.

Of course, separating science and economics in this context is difficult. Major economies that lead the world today gain strength from their position in experimental sciences, innovation, and invention.
Consequently, a language that knows strong economic support is better than other languages in this aspect.

As we focus on scrutinizing this dimension specifically, we also implicitly affirm that there is no differentiation between languages and cultures and confirm the implications of human rights and anthropological studies.

But the difference emerges when the economy’s reputation, innovations, markets, business climate, and ways to achieve dreams of wealth begin to support a specific language. Then the language acquires particular importance and becomes an element of the same power the economy benefits from to gain more speakers.

So, the power of language comes from the power of the economy and its spread from the spread of goods, products, devices, and inventions. In other words, the economy becomes a source of attraction for its primary language.

Here we can ask a simple question: Does language contribute to shaping our economy? The answer is yes.

Language, as we know it, is a carrier of the worldview of its speakers in general.

Also, talking about speakers of a language does not mean that language does not go beyond pronunciation and speech. Language is a system of thinking, vision, perception, representations, and even behavior.

From this standpoint, we understand the relationship of the English language with science, and we know more about why Britain was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution and how its language acted as a lever and support for the emergence of the scientific movement.

The more accurate a language is, and the more vigorous its relationship with the tangible world, the closer its people are to knowledge.

It is also no secret that language mirrors peoples’ mentality, and through it, one can eavesdrop on the imagination and systems of thought.

Through this mirror, the extent to which a society can provide a strong and dynamic economy can be determined.

It is the language that reflects the accuracy of its speakers. It reveals an upbringing based on independence, creativity, balanced self-confidence, and a strong work ethic, which produces societies that live in economies that create wealth and satisfy people’s expectations.

What led us to talk about language and economics?

Today, the 18th summit of the very ancient “Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF),” which is now more than half a century old, considering that it was founded in 1970, includes nearly 80 countries.

Holding the 18th OIF summit in Tunisia, specifically on the charming island of Djerba with its beauty and culture, is an excellent occasion to raise the relationship between the dissemination of language and economic projects and extensive and robust cooperation programs that bring French-speaking countries together.

The OIF is meeting around the French language, and the future of this language is closely and organically interconnected to what this language can provide in terms of cooperation and interests between the countries that speak it.

So, it seems that choosing to hold an economic forum at the OIF summit activities attended by Francophone leaders is a successful choice in two respects: The first aspect is that the economy is what brings together all forms of blocs, whether they are based on belonging to one continent, one religion, one language or one geography.

As for the other aspect, it rests in the message that all kinds of empires live and flourish and become stronger and more powerful when they are based on vital interests, and the economy is the essential interest of relations and exchanges.

The economy is the core of languages, and everything!