Mainstream English Language

Heritage languages refer to the languages spoken by immigrants and their children and has recently come to be used broadly by those concerned about the study, maintenance, and revitalization of non-English languages in the United States (Montrul, 2012). Heritage language learners contain a heterogeneous group ranging from fluent native speakers to non-speakers who may be generations removed but who may feel culturally connected to a language (Deusen-Scholl, 2003). A heritage language program is any language development program that is designed or tailored to address the needs of heritage language learners, and heritage language programs may be at any level or setting and vary in terms of their approaches to teaching, populations they serve, and other factors (Chao, 1997). Heritage language programs have three major educational contexts: community-based program, K-12, and higher education. Heritage language schools are often created out of a community’s desire to pass on their language and culture from one generation to the next in order to maintain connections within families and communities

This has lead to English taking the role of the global language, or as Crystal (2013) refers to, ‘Englishes’. He argues that it is necessary to use the term ‘Englishes’, to truly reflect the nature and variance of English as it has spread across the world. In this way, Standard Australian English is just one of many varieties of English. Among the list are varieties such as New Zealand English, American English, Spanglish and Singlish. Of note is the variety of Aboriginal English which contrary to popular belief is not English spoken badly but indeed its own classified dialect of English (Malcom & Ziljstra, 2011). Crystal (2013) explains how these varieties of English have developed as communities take ownership of English and use it to express their own local and cultural notions and ideas. Because language is culturally informed, it is also inextricably connected to one’s identity (Malcom & Ziljstra, 2011). The evolution of language in the context of changing time and place demonstrate the dynamic nature of language. This social phenomenon results in language being both diverse and unique amongst

Since our nation’s birth in 1776, we the people of America have aimed to be a melding pot of different cultures open to everyone. While the majority of Americans speak English, over 62 million people speak a language besides English in the comfort of their own homes. With all our cultural diversity, some still feel the need to make English the official Language of the United States. Since it was founded, the culture of our country has been dominated by wealthy European, often English immigrants, where other cultures have been oppressed and moved to the backburner. The supposed melding pot of America is really directing other cultures to imitate the English immigrants and held them to their standards. This phenomenon of idolizing the European cultural patterns while reducing African and other groups of people as subcultures has been labeled as Eurocentrism. The opposition the the Official English movement argue that knowing multiple languages is inarguably beneficial for the cognitive development of society, as those who are able to speak two or more languages have a higher rate of literacy, a better attention span and better functioning systems. Put into a simpler definition, those who speak multiple languages brains’ work better than those who speak only one language because it challenges the brain to function in more complex situations and allows it to adapt and grow. An English Only movement supports the Social Conflict Theory

In some foreign country, the first language of children is English. And when they grow up, they need to use English to cope their assignment in secondary school or university, especially university, lots of lessons will use English. Not just in university, some of lesson out of the university also use English. Many of the top industry publications and research is in English, and people need to know English. They use English skillfully because they always speak. But now, not only the foreign country, some developed country children learned English when they are young, in some Kindergarten, they try to learn the pronunciation of letters. For the English become global language, people would like to learn English when they are young. For learning English in the school, children will have an extra skill for their life when they grow up. Speaking a second language to other people takes courage and is often a transformative experience for people. But on the other hand, when the people were young, they can learn English in the school. Because of this, it makes lots of people rely on the school, they just know that if they can pass the test in the school, their English is good. It is wrong. And as the English developed, many materials are in English, as people who want to know what the result is, they need to know

Wallraff is concerned about the future of the English language and has started assuming what would happen if English became the global language. She further forecasted the situations that may occur if everyone started speaking English. The work, research and time Ms. Wallraff has devoted to the article demonstrate her attitude and concern about the English language and its future. The article that she has written basically targets people of new generation X who are firm believer of English being a Global language ignoring the fact that other languages are outnumbering English. Besides targeting the younger generation, the article is also targeting those for whom English is not primary

The English language is considered one of the global languages. It is spoken in many countries and is well-known everywhere. But do you ever wonder how many obstacles people face when they speak English as a second language? Or when they speak with an accent or use black vernacular language? In United States (US) people glorify Standard American English (SAE), and it used as a tool to discriminate and oppress. In the Article “8 Harmful Example of Standard American English Privilege”, Hernandez (2015) states that:

Before we begin, it is very important to understand the difference between an official language and a standard language. An official languages is one that is adopted by the government for document and business purposes, this would be most native people’s second language; one that the government sees as advantageous and necessary. Most of the time a standard language could also be referred to as the native language; a common language that the high majority of citizens use to converse outside of the government. Currently there is a major push to be bilingual, to the point where countries are adding or changing the official language(s). Countries that were presented and are using English because of government ordained laws are Kenya, Zambia, The Bahamas, Jamaica, New Zealand, Ireland; an extremely minimalistic representation the total amount of countries with English as an official language. Almost every other country, especially China and India, have their students studying English. It is advantageous for further education, business, and

With the globalization, the English Language became the main language of the communication in the world. In this perspective, Dennis Baron discusses in his article Who Owns Global English” the omnipresence and the prevalence of the English in today’s society. For Dennis Baron, English has become the key success in the world platform.

English as we know it is indeed the dominant language, but does that mean everyone should learn it? Should English be the global language? Should you have to know English to communicate if you are someone that lives in a place where the native language is something different? The answer is no. However, first you must consider the statement “It is a fact that English is the dominant language in the world today. Everyone, in every country, in order to participate in the modern world, should learn English. After all, a language is just a random collection of words, so how hard can it be”. Personally, I believe it is tremendously difficult to learn a new language as an adult, but in order to make the world go round, we all should know more than one language; no one language should rule. Barbara Wallraff, David Crystal, and John Tagliabue share a few words that connect to the statement to show their personal mindset behind English being a global language. In this essay, I will extract statements from each of the authors that explain their views on a global language to support my overall perception.

There are discrepancies within the educational curriculum that are not culturally diverse when trying to close the achievement gap. This means through analyzing the evidence from 2002 No Child Left Behind Act, there may need to be a revision. When seeking detailed and comprehensive outcomes, Hess, Stover, Liston, Whitcomb, and Boroko (2007) highlighted the questionings or argument of, what would happen if we take our eyes off the goal(s)? The key aspect that speaks volume in gauging with students is understanding the student population, Ware (2016) identified how practices were incorporating elements of the students’ culture in their teaching, adapting instruction to meet the students’ learning style, and having high standards and expectations (p. 20). While standardized English has a different effect on the various background, the method in instruction is imperative to comprehension. According to Silva and Cain (2015) language skills develop early, we have noted that word reading is the critical limiter of reading comprehension in the early stages of reading development.

Last Night I was reading the newspaper while drinking some tea and eating a biscuit. The paper really gave me insight into the tragic realities of the world. There are a plethora of countries that don‘t have the opportunity to read “Garfield” because they cannot understand English. Due to this, English should be the global lingua franca. It is assumed that wherever anyone goes in the world, someone will speak some sort of English. It may be extremely choppy and broken but it is English nonetheless. English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Many people speak it as a primary or secondary language. In fact, an estimated 1 billion people speak English (PBS). There are two sides to having English as the lingua franca of the world. On one side, there is easier communication for business as well as innovation. On the contrary, the influence of English can destroy small languages and cultures.

John McWhorter’s “The Cosmopolitan Tongue: The Universality of English” argues against a widespread belief that the death of a language signifies the death of a culture (2009). Recently, many linguists and anthropologists have begun to worry that cultures are quickly disappearing because of the death of languages. In fact, it is estimated that of the 6,000 languages currently in use, only 600 will still be in use by the year 2109 (McWhorter, 2009, p. 247). McWhorter questions whether this is an issue that will negatively impact society. McWhorter makes a somewhat convincing argument that the death of a culture does not follow by the death of a language. While many examples are compelling, he relies heavily on reasoning and personal examples and fails to analyze why English as the world language would pose problems for those who do not speak it.

Some people think that English should not continue to be taught globally because many ethnic and national groups are afraid that they will lose their cultural identity and native language. There are also those for whom it is too hard to speak English at their work. Cultural identity reminds us that we are a part of a history that defines our past and shapes who we are likely to become. People also fear that they will not speak their native language anymore and that may mean they will not know their own identity well. Furthermore, people got a headache at work because they can’t communicate English, because, in fact, English is not an easy language to learn for many people. These reasons are the why people worry today. According to Debate.org,

The English Language has been in existence for many years. This is thanks to many early conquers who spoke the language. As a result, today English is used by “at least one out of every seven human beings around on the globe” (Lederer 216). With that many speakers, the reality in Lederer’s words that “half of the world’s

     “In the world were over seven thousand languages have exisisted, one language had become dominate. This dominant language is English.” “In the majority of countries throughout the world speak English as their second or first language, no longer just America or England.” English has taken many forms, American English, the Queen’s English, Australian, Canadian English, and several others. Even American English has taken several types of English, Jersey English, East Coast English, West Coast English, Southern English, slang English, and Ebonics. All of these languages have major variants between them, but are all of them are still understood aboard. Without English the world couldn’t operate,