This chapter explores language as a form of capital – both cultural and symbolic – and its role in social inequality. Drawing on Bourdieu’s theory (1986), it examines how language distribution reinforces power structures, with ruling classes controlling literacy in specialized fields. The ‘linguistic deficit’ theory links lower socioeconomic status (SES) with limited language resources, leading to educational and social deficits. It also introduces the Matthew effect, where students with more language capital accumulate even more, and the Great Gatsby Curve, suggesting that inequality in language resources perpetuates social stratification.

Through a series of case studies of bilingualism, the chapter illustrates how language shapes social power dynamics. It argues that, in a globalized world, bilingualism – often a privilege in elite education – should be made available to all to address broader social inequities. Only through multilingual education will language policies reduce inequality and enable true social mobility.