Language and Localization

Is language use or even language connected with a special place in time?  This question can't of course answered with a simple "yes" or "no", but it is also obvious, that thinking closer about the nature of language(s) the yes-answer seems to be a better choice. One argument for the place connection of language is deixis. Deixis (Wp-Link) connects language use, the ongoing communications here to a place. But Deixis, referring to place, where Speaker or Listener is located, is an indicator for spoken communication. Written communication is using makers of place to locate the writer. In former times, when the people were writing letters it was custom (at least in German letters) to indicate, where this specific letter was written. This blog has function to locate posts. This means: written texts are normally not located, the writer can locate himself, but it of course difficult to locate the readers. Oral language is located, but written communication isn't, but there are some (technical) means to locate the communication. Why is it important to locate language? The origin of located language is of course our body. The language of children is originally located language use, they are referring to place(s) of the first interaction(s).

Taking the language into consideration, the "yes" answer of the first question is getting stronger. The whole idea of "language" couldn't be existing without institutions, like a nation-state. In this sense B. Andersons "Imagined communities" are very real for the development of languages. And the schooling institutions in all countries are working to maintain the idea of language in very practical definitions for spelling, interpunctuation, but also for oral means, like articulation. And because of the fact, that all nation-states are controlling a certain place on this earth, language is connected to a special place.

But I am writing this post in English, because English is delocating. English went beyond the origin of existence and is now more and more a translocal language, which makes it useful for international purposes. But seeing movies in English, from all over the world shows: there is not only one English, there are several Englishes in place, as the instructive lecture of Salikoko S. Mufwene on You Tube shows.   

By the way the way, the You Tube lecture of Mr. Mufwene is a good example for multilingual project, because the lecture is hold in French (with English subtitles). And not only the content of this lecture, but also the medium shows, that language, especially English is more and more delocating. Other Languages are about to follow.  

To answer the opening question: Yes, language is still related to places, but the relations are getting weaker.