Abstract
The philosophical inquiry into language as a resource is crucial given language’s current growing significance globally, especially in the digital economy. Hence, this paper presented a six-point argument to further uphold language as a resource to maximise its utilisation in the global economy, particularly in Africa. Specifically, it examined whether language is a means to an end, a necessary condition for the attainment of an end, an intangible matrix, a natural reality, positive and negative, and contextualisable. Anchoring on linguistic capital theory and conceptual analysis, this paper argues that language is not merely a communicative tool, but also a social resource, translatable into economic capital. As a qualitative research, this paper drew its data from existing literature. Subsequently, the findings revealed that the six-point argument is a further justification of the instrumental values of language. Thus, this paper concluded that given the growing strategic importance of language globally, it is crucial to integrate it into the economic template globally, especially in Africa, which is currently experiencing linguistic marginalisation. Thus, it recommended the need to promote all languages, as doing so means sustaining a vital resource beneficial to man.
Authors:
Bartholomew Nnaemedo
Abia State University, Uturu
Department of Religious Studies/Philosophy
nnaemedo.bartholomew@abiastateuniversity.edu.ng
OCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2691-7890