Linguistic (Neo)Imperialism: The Monopoly of English Language Usage in the Criminal Justice System in St. Lucia

In many erstwhile British colonies across the globe, one of the most patent legacies of British colonial rule is the dominance of English as the language of public formal interaction in state institutions. This chapter analyzes the monopoly of English in the criminal justice system in St. Lucia through the conceptual framework of linguistic (neo)imperialism. It examines its dominant role in the system and explores how inequality, injustice and discrimination occur in relation to Kwéyòl speakers. The findings reveal ‘normal’ linguistic practices that fall squarely within the linguistic (neo)imperialism paradigm and calls for appropriate measures to address and combat its negative impacts and promote linguistic diversity in the criminal justice system in St. Lucia and in other postcolonial societies.