English as the Strongest Language - Essay Example

Why is English the Strongest Language and why it is the Easiest to Study? English as the strongest language According to Matters (2003), English language in today’s global world remains an important language. With the developing technology, English remains the most spoken language, and while each country has its national language, it is clear that every country owns a bit of its English too. English plays a vital role in medicine, engineering, and mostly education, which is the most vital area especially in the developing countries. Any developing country requires English language to prove its international power based on the efficiency of tertiary power. Many people argue that British colonization brought about the English language power; hence, people should develop their languages. This paper discusses on the strength of English language, and why English is the easiest language to study. The anti-English language campaigners feel that the British colonizers forced the language on the people during the colonization era. They argue that the British never gave the other nations chances to develop their languages. This type of language colonization occurred in all communications whether through media or conferences. The newspapers, books, televisions, and radios among others used English language to deliver any messages to the society. The Englishmen introduced schools ensuring that English was the learning language, and they allowed no other language. This introduction made English a global language considering that the British colonies were bigger than any other global colonization. A person may argue that English remains the global language considering that every country relates or recognizes English language. Its language status makes it strong and easy to read. Cummins (2007) argues that many people use the English language, and therefore a young child may quickly relate to this language since there is somebody using it around him or her. Most countries have equally made English language their official language. As a result, the language becomes the medium of communication both nationally and socially. English language becomes a second language from mother tongue meaning that upon school entry, English is the first language. This language is the most available to adults too whether they learned it or not. English is at this moment the largely taught language in over 100 nations like Russia, China, Spain, German, and Egypt among others. According to Mueller (2011), technology plays a big role in strengthening the English language and easing its learning. Every country wants to expand its markets, and the global language is a strong facilitator of this global networking. In addition, there is an easy access to the English learning tools because of the governments’ will to expound on the English language. Therefore, when teaching English, there is an easy access of libraries, media, institutions, and an increased number of English teachers. There will also be an easy access to books, videos, tapes, computers, and other learning materials. The production costs of these English learning materials may be equally cheap considering that every country is likely to produce its own without having to import from other countries. However, a few countries may lack government support in English learning hindering the achievement of the English learning goals. What makes English the strongest language is the number of people using it, and the effects it has on the development (Brutt-Griffler 2002). Language has a direct link between its dominance and technological and cultural power. A robust base of power gives English a solid growth as an international means of communication. Some people argue that English has less grammar compared to Greek, French, Arabic, and Latin among others. Others argue that English does not have long endings of words and that a person does not have to remember the difference between masculine, feminine, and gender making it easier to learn. However, the language’s power may depend on the power of its origin especially the political and military power, and this seems to favor the English language. The Englishman colonized America, which the strongest government in the world currently. The Americans adopted the language due to its multinationals making it a common language for the immigrants. Today America rules the world, and hence the English language continues ruling the world. This ruling compares to the Greek language that ruled the Middle East over 2000 years ago mainly because of their swords and spears. However, (Brutt-Griffler 2002) argues that English language exploded in the nineteenth century due to the economic developments that came with globalization. The support from new communication technologies like telephone, telegraph, radios, and the modern internet fostered the emergence of massive the explosion of multinational organizations. Consequently, the competition brought about the explosion of international marketing, and advertising making media power to reach unprecedented levels. Later, the broadcasting media crossed the international boundaries, and English language played a vital role in this process because it was in the right place at the right time. During this time, Britain was the leading industrial and trading country at the beginning of the nineteenth century. However, by the twentieth century, the American population approached 100 million, which was larger than any Western Europe country. The economic supremacy superseded the politics and the language behind the dollar was the English language. However, having English language as the strongest language poses some disadvantage in cultivating a monolingual linguistic class, more complacent, and dismissive towards other languages. The people using this language as their mother tongue tend to manipulate situations through quick translations to their advantage. This manipulation of language also increases the gap linking the rich and the poor. It is also clear that other languages continue disappearing due to their lack of necessity. Some people argue that a world with one language would be a good thing, full of peace and unity. However, others argue that eroding culture is wrong, and people should enhance their mother tongues. It is hard to predict the emergence of a global language considering the rate of linguistic growth and the speed of the global language scenario. Within one generation, world language confirmed it was not a theoretical possibility, but a reality. English has become the language of opportunity and empowerment as confirmed in the earlier discussions. However, despite this argument, it is clear that two-thirds of the world population do not use the English language especially the Soviet Union. Therefore, countries willing to boost English as a global language should facilitate the learning process. Conclusion English language seems to be the global language mainly because of its use in marketing especially advertising. The British colony was powerful, and dominated the trades during the colonial years, and this domination contributed to the English language power. Technology due to globalization means international trades across borders hence the need for a global language. Many countries have adopted English language as the national language, and, therefore, they have facilitated the English learning through many ways. These countries continue availing books, tapes, and media as learning tools, while providing relevant materials making it easy to learn. There is an increased rise in technology, and business, and a common language remains vital for these developments. While no one is certain of the future global language, it is clear that currently English remains the global language. The televisions, radios, and internet among others play a vital role in enhancing the English language as a strong global language for the current generation. References Brutt-Griffler, J. (2002). World English: A study of its development. Clevedon [etc.: Multilingual Matters. Crystal, D. (2003). English as a global language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Cummins, J. (2007). International handbook of English language teaching. New York: Springer. Gagliardi, C., & Maley, A. (2010). EIL, ELF, global English: Teaching and learning issues. Bern, Switzerland: Peter Lang. Gillespie, K., & Hennessey, H. D. (2011). Global marketing. Australia: South-Western Cengage Learning. Mueller, B. (2011). Dynamics of international advertising: Theoretical and practical perspectives. New York: P. Lang. Read More