Language is not just a tool for communication — it’s deeply tied to culture, history, and power. Like everything else in life, language has never been immune to the influence of dominant groups. The way we speak, the languages we choose, and the reactions we receive when we use them often carry the weight of centuries of politics, colonization, and cultural struggle. The Weight of History in Everyday Speech Think about it: a French person learning English does not feel the same way as a Japanese learner , or an Indigenous Australian learner . For some, English is simply a global tool. For others, it is inseparable from the painful history of colonization, cultural erasure, and territorial struggles. Living in Quebec , I’ve experienced this tension firsthand. When I speak in English in shops, someone often reminds me to “speak French.” I have no problem with French itself — it’s a beautiful language — but for someone like me, who grew up in a former and oppressed British colony, ...