Language, Power, and Resistance: A Critical Study of Discourse in Postcolonial Contexts

Abstract

Language functions not only as a means of communication but also as a site of power, identity, and resistance, particularly in postcolonial societies. Colonization introduced dominant languages and imposed epistemologies that marginalized indigenous languages, cultural expressions, and ways of knowing. This research paper critically examines how discourse operates as both an instrument of power and a tool for resistance in postcolonial contexts. By analyzing literary texts, political speeches, and media narratives, the study demonstrates how language reflects social hierarchies, enforces hegemonic ideologies, and simultaneously enables subaltern voices to challenge oppression. A case study of postcolonial Indian English literature highlights strategies employed by authors to assert cultural identity and resist linguistic imperialism. Survey data collected from 30 literature scholars and 50 students across postcolonial regions provides insight into contemporary perceptions of language, identity, and empowerment. The findings indicate that discourse is central to maintaining or contesting social power and that postcolonial writers creatively manipulate language to assert agency, reclaim narrative authority, and preserve cultural memory. The paper concludes that a critical understanding of language in postcolonial contexts is essential for comprehending broader social, political, and cultural dynamics.