English as a Global Language for Spread - myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theEnglish as a Global Language for Spread and Functions. Answer: Introduction Crystal (2012:9) defines a global language as one which is spoken internationally as a mother tongue and also widely among non-native speakers. The world is becoming a global village resulting to increased international travel and trade among nations. There is, therefore, need for a common language. The English language is the most widely spoken language. Hogg and Denison (2008:23) estimated that there are more than 400 million people who normally use English to communicate and speak it as a mother tongue and 1100 million as a learnt language in the world. It has enabled many people of different cultural backgrounds to communicate. With English becoming the most widely spoken global language, it is feared that other languages will eventually cease to exist since a person only need one language to communicate to others (Crystal p. 99). Why English English fluency has become vital since most firms prefer English for negotiations making it the language of trade. It is an important language in the international policy. For example, it is estimated 31% of EU population use English as a second or foreign language followed by French with 12% (Phillipson, p.8). The English language is also the language used in nautical and international air traffic control. It is therefore taught in school to bridge the cultural barriers between nations and people of different backgrounds. Crystal (2012:89) suggests that a language becomes global as a result of the political and military power of its population. English usage increased because it is the language of the most technological inventions like the computer, keyboard, and the internet which originated from English speaking countries. This spread was as a result of British political powers which lead to its spread as a colonial language (Kachru, p.5). Many non-native English countries use it now in their institutions like courts, parliament, and schools to bridge the cultural gap between different communities. English is also the language of entertainment especially movies, music, sports, and telecommunication. This growth has been promoted mainly by American economic and cultural supremacy. English language as a global language has allowed better communication among people of different cultural backgrounds. Which in turn has enhanced global unity and cohesion and hence reduction of crime. It has also enhanced education through information sharing (Hogg and Denison, p. 78). However, the use of English as a global language leads to less usage of various native languages which might eventually become extinct. Their loss will result in erosion of cultures and national identity by having people with one culture. And in turn, finish tourism industry which is the backbone of the economies of many countries. Conclusion Increasing growth of English use as a global language has made the world a better place as a means of communication. However, it is leading to loss of relevance of many other languages due to their less usage. Therefore, native languages should also be preserved to prevent loss of important cultures in them. References Crystal, D., 2012. English as a global language. Cambridge university press. Hogg, R. and Denison, D. eds., 2008. A history of the English language. Cambridge University Press. Kachru, B.B., 1986. The alchemy of English: The spread, functions, and models of non-native Englishes. University of Illinois Press. Phillipson, R., 2003. English-only Europe? Challenging language policy. Psychology Press.