Vol 2 No 1, 2026 Research Article
Research Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21659/iw/v2n1/v2n101
[Article History: Received: 03 August 2026. Accepted: 04 October 2026. Published: 20 October 2026]
Abstract
Language played a pivotal role in establishing hierarchy during colonialism. The colonial language was unjustly imposed on people, which mostly affected them in exploitative ways. They were not free to use their own native languages and were forced to translate their thoughts into the imposed colonial language if they wanted their view to be heard or considered. Many post-colonialist thinkers emphasised the psychological effects of colonialism, which create a sense of inferiority in people and ultimately take them away from their own indigenous culture. This paper will attempt to analyse the struggles colonised people face in expressing their thoughts in an imposed language, with reference to Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. It will examine the underlying epistemic injustice that arises when one is forced to narrate their lived experience in a foreign language. In addition, the loss of aesthetic sense resulting from the imposition of language, and a profound feeling of alienation from their immediate environment—an environment they constructed—are also matters of concern. The paper will examine the extent to which Ngugi`s suggestion to return to the oral tradition can resolve these issues.
Keywords: postcolonialism, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, language, alienation, oral tradition
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