But if the change is forced and rapid, as when people suddenly lose jurisdiction over their land, or are even relocated, then culture, language, and biodiversity are all threatened. The process of driving local cultural groups off their land or at least divesting them of jurisdiction is characteristic of 19th and 20th-century imperialism. By and large, ancient forms of imperialism demanded tribute and obedience of subject peoples but left them their cultures and land regimes, and thus their languages. A uniform language is imposed and, like everything else in the new system, becomes a global commodity, which immediately puts those who do not speak it, or who speak it badly, at a grave disdvantage. As this language extends itself through compulsory education and mass media, both linguistic diversity and biodiversity decrease, leading to a condition of not only cultural but also biological simplification, which is extremely unstable and dangerous on both levels.
Societies are destabilized, religions become apocalyptic.
Disconnected from the land, cultures homogenize and no longer uphold biodiversity. If you have questions or comments on this paper, please write to the author in care of Terralingua and we'll pass them on. All rights reserved.