Humans have a natural born ability to communicate with one another; they are able to exchange ideologies, philosophy, desires, acknowledgements and many more. Above all of these is language; Human language is a rare communication structure that is taught from birth instead of being inherited (Palomar College, 2006). It is estimated that there is around seven thousand spoken languages in the world today, with less than one hundred thousand people using up to ninety percent of those languages (BBC, 2014). As a result of globalisations effect on language, the English language has become a lingua franca, also known as a ‘global language’ (Dewey, 2007). With English becoming the de facto international language a rise in linguistic hegemony has also occurred. This essay critiques two scholarly articles, which explain the effects of globalisation on language. Each article examines English as the lingua franca. The content of the articles is then compared and contrasted to identify related and conflicting views on the globalisation of English.
One billion people daily are learning the English language, 380 million people speak it as their first language and a third of the world’s population is exposed to the English language in some shape or form (Johnson, 2009). It is expected that by the year 2050, half of the world’s population will be competent in the language, which is being hailed as the language of globalisation (Phillipson, 2001). English is essential to the process of
“Intrinsic arguments describe the English language as providential, rich, noble and interesting. Such arguments tend to assert what English is and what other languages are not”. As mentioned previously, notwithstanding that the english language is widely-spoken around the world, diversity is important and for many individuals language is the basis of their culture. Making english the global language is essentially
English has become the most widespread and powerful language on Earth. The imperial English Empire spread English across the globe; from America to Asia. English’s position in the world was cemented by US cultural and diplomatic dominance; evident in American movies, fast food, and clothing. English has proven it is not moving anywhere anytime soon, as English only grows in use over time. Thus a debate has arisen: Should English be the official Universal Language? On one hand, English can harm other cultures, international relations, and scientific development; however, English is very flexible and widely used, making it the perfect candidate for a global language.
Nowadays Its well known that the English language is the most commonly used second language, therefore, the Acquisition of English as a Foreign Language has a significant value in all aspects of our lives whether it was for education, communication,cultural, political or as a job requirement, With the spread of social media and modern
In an ever changing world we have seen the number and complexity of languages become reduced. In a Wall Street Journal article entitled What the World Will Speak in 2115, John H. McWhorter advocates for the world to see these changes as necessary and a way for communication worldwide to become more efficient and simplified. McWhorter shows how language has been streamlined for centuries as a way for citizens to adapt rather than viewed as an extinction of culture. Modern English is likely to become the dominant language worldwide but more so for the fact that it can be easily learned and is open to transformation with the times. Despite the fears of a world where lingual diversity is reduced, McWhorter suggests that there will still be variation to promote culture and communication with people from all backgrounds will be easier. The following is a summary and analysis of McWhorter’s main points describing the simplification of language. Following the summary of main points will be a hypothetical situation in what the world language could consist of 100 years from now.
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.
Schools around the world teach English to their students. In Europe especially 85 percent of students learn English as their second language (Source B). Why spend time learning another’s language while they already speak your own? There is no concrete justification. English is already one of the most spoken languages around the world and it continues to grow diminishing the value of other languages. Responses to this may include that while English is very widespread the future of languages is unpredictable, English may not in fact become the ‘global language’ it aspires to be(Source F). Mandarin is a language spoken by many people, it’s reach isn’t as far but China is an emerging superpower so who’s to say Mandarin won't become the ‘global language’. But, for now we must live in the present and not be ignorant of the fact that here and now English is the one at an upward
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.
‘English has unquestionably become a global phenomenon’ (Selvi, 2013) with approximately three hundred and seventy-five million people speaking English around the world with
English, which is spoken by 1.9 billon of the world’s population as their first language (Redman, 2004), has been spreading rapidly in the world since the British Industrial Revolution and colonialism in many continents such as Asia, Africa and North America during the 18th century (Lavot, 2000). As the influence of English is increasing, some linguists think that it is a natural process of successful international communication. However, many other languages are also dying out at an accelerating rate because of the expansion of the English language. In discussing the issue of the growing influence of English; arguments, both for and against, should be considered, particularly, in the economic, the information exchange, the linguistic
Nowadays we are living in the age of globalization and as a result anything produced or invented in any part of the world gets global character very rapidly. To keep pace with globalization, it is very much essential to learn the global language English. English has a grip as the language of the global world, and being so it has become the most commonly learnt second language amongst foreign language speakers. English is the most commonly taught second language in foreign schools, as English is the collective language spoken by 1.8 billion people world wide, 27% of the world’s population. (Lona Glenn & Maria Castle, 2011).A vast majority of non-native English learners study a wide variety of school subjects using a language that is not their
A language that is spoken internationally is called “Global” or “World” language. A global language is a language in which people speak internationally on a daily basis, in international organizations and diplomatic relations. It is a “lingua franca”, a language that helps people from different backgrounds to communicate with each other. Not many languages that have been established in human history have reached to the point in which they are called a global language, amongst those few languages is English. Approximately 2 billion people around the world use English as a native language, a second language or a foreign language. English is used for many causes, such as; technical and scientific communication, education and employment.
Language is important because it's one of the main ways to communicate and interact with other people around us. It keeps us in contact with other people. English language is an example for the importance of a language because it is the international language and has become the most important language to people in many parts of the world. It is most widely used in communicating around the world, Also it is spoken as the first language in many countries. English is playing a major role in many sections like education, medicine, engineering and business. There are many reasons that makes English is the most important language in the world.
Globalization has also contributed to an increasing interest in English-language education worldwide. In response to the emergence of English as a world-linking, global language, an increasing number of schools have stepped up English–language requirements, even at undergraduate levels. The argument is that a universal teaching language is necessary as a natural consequence of globalization.
“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,