1. The Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 Stereotyping, Linguistic Imperialism & Otherization

2. An international, multi-sport event, held quadrennially, involving thousands of athletes representing the Commonwealth Nations. The head of the Commonwealth Nations is Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom who is also monarch of 16 of the Commonwealth members. Many Commonwealth countries are former colonies of the British empire and thus hold legal, political, sporting, and cultural similarities. Sports included are those popular in the Commonwealth and aim to celebrate their shared sporting and cultural history. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations

3. Expresses the differences between the culturally, socially, politically, historically, and economically dominant in-group and thus subordinates the out-group In the process of stereotyping, the out group (or the people in the subordinate position) are made to believe that they themselves and their culture are somehow inferior to the dominant in-group. Stereotyping

4. Transference of a dominant language and aspects of its culture onto speakers of other languages Expression of the dominant culture exposes active power of the powerful over the powerless Linguistic Imperialism

5. Ascribing identity of the self through the negative attribution of characteristics to the other. The culture you belong to tells you who you should be as a member of that culture and what is done by others if not the same is by contrast deemed incorrect. Otherization

6. P1: “I don’t know why they are holding the games in India when there is so much trouble there.” P2: “But there could be that kind of trouble anywhere, they will have plenty of security I’m sure.” P1: “Yes, but this is supposed to be the Commonwealth Games, the buildings should be up to the same standard as they are in the other Commonwealth countries. I don’t think they would just get on with the show if a footbridge collapsed in England.” Personal Interaction:

7. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/commonwealth-games/4152860/Bridge-collapse-adds-to-Commonwealth-Games-woes

8. Implications: More than what should be put up with Bother, worry, inconvenience, discomfort Referring to recent terror threats experienced in the area British culture expects/would produce better quality The way things are done in England is the right way to do things A footbridge for the Commonwealth games wouldn’t collapse in England We only want the best environment for our athletes to compete in, and this is not it “so much” “trouble” “should be up to same standard” “I don’t think they would just get on with the show if the same thing happened in England”

9. Slums cleaned up and cleared out in Delhi

10. “In the Indian capital, slum dwellers living in tourist destinations and key Commonwealth Games venues were booted out of their makeshift homes by the police and the city's notorious fleet of buses taken off the road.” http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/commonwealth-games/4169261/Slums-cleaned-up-and-cleared-out-in-Delhi

11. “booted out” “makeshift homes” “tourist destinations and key Commonwealth Games Venues” Thrown out/ forcibly removed Temporary housing not adequate to be lived in long term This elite event should not be exposed to people living in dire conditions The area need to be seen to conform to the living norm of British culture Implications:

12. Stereotyping India has ‘trouble’ and ‘poor standards’ India is out-group of Commonwealth Nations as it does not resemble conditions in England Linguistic Imperialism Even though the Commonwealth games are being held in India, the concept is British, so the obligation is there to comply along British lines of organisation and running of the tournament Implies things are done better in England and thus things should be done as they would Otherization India is a member of the Commonwealth Nations and therefore should look and act as is done in England Slum dwellers are made to feel like aliens in their own living environment because them remaining there during the Games would tarnish the image of what it is to be a member of the Commonwealth

13. Julie Huston © 2010