English as Todays Global Language - Term Paper Example

Try to account for the fact that English has become today’s global language. What are the problems associated with this for non-English speaking countries and also for the English language itself? Today it is an evident fact that English is the global language. It is possible to hear how it is spoken on television from around the world, wherever one goes, it is possible to see signs and advertisements in English. According to statistics, about one-quarter of the worlds population is already fluent in English and this number is constantly growing: the beginning of the XXI-st century, it was more than a half billion of people. Any other language, for speed and magnitude of the proliferation can not be compared to English. But the reasons that language becomes the first international, then global, have nothing to do with the number of people who speak it, but rather depends on who are those people. There is an inextricable link between language dominance and economic, technological and cultural dominance of the people speaking this language. In the absence of any power of the people no language can not become a means of international communication. Language does not exist separately from people who speak it. Language exists only in their heads, ears, hands and eyes of its users. When they succeed in the international arena, their language thrives. (Soler, 2008) These arguments seem to be obvious, but they need more time to pay attention, because in the past few years other misleading views about the causes of a global status of English have emerged and have spread completely. Very often it is possible to hear statements about the English language that has received such wide distribution in the world because of grammatical structures which are simpler than in other languages or because of the fact that the English words do not need to add a lot of different endings, in English it is no need to remember the difference between male, female and middle-born, so it is easier to teach. Many people talk about the similarities between the English vocabularies with the vocabulary of other languages, particularly French. Indeed, more than half the English words are borrowed from French and English lexical point of view is actually the Romance languages than German. Another frequent argument is that English is a very democratic language, where there is no system of class differences. All these facts are undoubtedly correct, but they have nothing to do with the success of the spread of the English language in the world and are completely random in nature. In contrast to such views there is the number of so-called "shortcomings" in English, such as not falling under any system of spelling rules, a large number of the same word, many phraseological verbs and idiomatic phrases. The global spread of the language is in no way depends on its internal structure, the level of vocabulary, his literary heritage, or the fact that the language associated with the great culture or religion. All these factors can only encourage someone to learn the language, but none of them, or even all of them together, not something that can not support the worldwide dissemination of the language, but these factors are not even able to save the language of his death, as for example, in the case of Latin. Traditionally, to become the international language there is always only one primary reason: the power of its people, or rather their political and military power. But the international dominance of the language is not only a military power. Military force is necessary to establish the nation language, but the need for the economic strength of its distribution and maintenance. So it was always, but the situation has reached its apogee in the XIX-th and XX-th centuries, when the economic development, supported by new communication technologies - the telegraph, telephone, radio, television, and finally the Internet, has been global in nature, ensuring the emergence of large transnational corporations. (Hanlon, 2008) Any language, being in the center of the explosion of international activity, suddenly became global. And English was "at the right time, in the right place." By the early XIX-th century, Britain became the leading industrial and trading nation in the world, and by mid-twentieth century the American economy the most productive and fastest growing in the world. In the XIX-th century British political imperialism had circulated English language around the world, but in the twentieth century, its global presence was maintained and increased almost solely through economic domination of the new superpower - the United States of America. The economy has replaced politics as the main driving force, the language which is behind the U.S. dollar was English. (Jenkins, 2009) The need for a global language of acutely observed in the academic and business communities. Humanity in a very short time has become much more mobile, both physically and electronically. Communicating via the Internet between scientists, businessmen and ordinary people from different countries would not have been possible without the use of a common language. The holding of international conferences with the multilateral transfer is too expensive and unjustified means, compared to the alternative use of one language. According to statistics, half of the total budget of international organizations is spent on translation costs, but the status of languages in international organizations is always very embarrassing - no country that wants the status of its language has been reduced, so is the so-called "working language", which is English almost everywhere today. In the present situation, English is increasingly seen as a language of great opportunities, increasingly, people do not speak English, are denied admission to the desired job. So, if you do not speak English you can have a strong desire to learn it, because this language will enable you to communicate with many people than any other. But at the same time, you need to make a lot of time and effort to master the language perfectly, which may have neither the time nor the will power. However, having reached a significant progress, you will feel proud of their accomplishments and enjoy the power of communication, which is now opened for you, but nevertheless, you may feel that people for whom English - native, have an unfair advantage over you. (Hanlon, 2008) The risk that people for whom a global language is their mother language, will automatically be in a better position than those who take it as a foreign language. Perhaps, for example, that the scientists for whom English is a foreign language, spend more time on writing reports, compared with their counterparts, for whom he was home, and consequently will have less time for research. However, if due attention is paid to the issue of language, selection of proper technique, the advantages of non-compliance issue of language is reduced to virtually zero. If the language is studied from an early age and improved in future, and language level is constantly maintained, the difference in the possession of English as a foreign language, it is practically impossible to distinguish from the conversation who speaks English from birth. It is important to emphasize that in this case the problem lies not in ability but in the approach to the study of languages in general. (Soler, 2008) However, it is impossible to safely make any assumptions about the future development of a global language. In linguistics it has not yet been precedents of this kind of speed and magnitude of the spread of language, which is in itself surprising. Less than a generation we have moved from a situation where the global language was merely a theoretical possibility, in a situation where the apparent reality. A quick English language is widely perceived as knowing a great potential. Perhaps we are approaching a critical moment of the linguistic history of mankind. Possible that global language occurs only once. Perhaps in future, the last quarter of the XX-th century will be regarded by historians as a critical moment of a global language. (Hanlon, 2008) In comparison with other languages the English language is a laudable trend towards clarity and brevity. Finally a rather controversial advantage - relative ease of spelling and pronunciation. Of course, a beginner learning English, this statement could cause a storm of outrage. However, it is believed that in comparison with other languages to English is much less difficult for the pronunciation of sounds and combinations of consonants variations. However, neither surprisingly structural properties of language, nor the impressive size of vocabulary or literary status, combined with religion and culture does not give them the status of a global language. Linguistic refers to the dominance of cultural power, but without the force of political, military and economic base of any one language becomes a means of international communication. “The language becomes international in a dominant reason - says well-known British linguist David Crystal, - the political force of people who speak that language, especially through military might. The history of the global language can be seen in successful expeditions of soldiers / sailors, speaking in that language.” (Crystal, 2003) History supports this theory. The dominance of the Greek, Latin, Arabic and French was caused by political and military power in these countries. Alistair Pennycook, in his book “The Cultural Politics of English as a Second Language” added: “A review of critical works on English language in the world has shown how it is tied to social and economic power at both the national and international levels, to the global spread of individual cultures and knowledge and to the inequitable international relations”. References Crystal David . (2003). English as a Global Language. Cambridge University Press; 2 edition Hanlon Michael . (2008). Eternity: Our Next Billion Years. Palgrave Macmillan Jenkins Jennifer . (2009). World Englishes: A Resource Book for Students. Routledge; 2 edition Soler Eva Alcon , Safont Jorda Maria Pilar . (2008). Intercultural Language Use and Language Learning. Springer; 1st ed. 2007. 2nd printing edition Read More