La Language as a practice for coloniality in the theme of the videogame: Metal Gear Solid V: The phantom pain

Abstract

I understand language as a series of signs used by the human being to generate a meaning of communication and coloniality as a relationship of domination imposed from culture A to culture B. Based on this: Is it possible that language is used as a way of coloniality of other cultures? That was what I asked myself when finishing the videogame Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Its argument is focused on the destruction of the Anglo-American language to end the imperialism of the United States. Although this video game seems to have a fictitious story, I propose this thesis: The argument of video game Phantom Pain, being understood as an exercise of power, could become in a practice for coloniality imposed to some cultures, I speak about the displacement of a language as a form to keep the control on some determined population.

To justify my thesis I propose two objectives: 1) Show the ways in which language has been or can be a way of practicing power, maintaining control over a determined population as a practice for the coloniality. 2) Show the problems that arise with the ambiguity and indetermination of language, an indetermination that makes any language untranslatable; a language containing a specific way of perceiving the world, its disappearance or restructuring may also imply the disappearance or manipulation on determined cultures.