English as a Global Tongue
English is spoken by more people than any other language in the world, thus it is considered a world language. Today English seems to evolve to a future global tongue, as its spreading on the Internet in recent years shows (almost 80% of the world-wide-web s pages are now written in English).
In this context the English language is accused of being a killer language that wipes out smaller languages as well as the cultures they represent. Scientific researches have found out that in fact many small languages have already vanished. However, English fitted in a slot that could have been filled by any other language as well. It can neither be blamed for developments demanding an international lingua franca nor for the consequences a homogenisation of communication has.
The immense progress in fields of science and technology has created the need to facilitate the world wide exchange of knowledge. Thus the latest industrial development demands an international language which everyone is able to understand. Because of its predominance in the industrial world it seems convenient that English will become this world language.
But, if everyone speaks the same language, will people still be able to keep their regional identities? As long as different cultures manage to keep their own language for internal communication there is nothing to worry about a global tongue. In Europe globalisation rather turned into a chance for the diversity of different regions. For example Scotland and Wales will become more independent from the British government. If people are interested in their regional culture an additional lingua franca for a homogenised official communication will not threaten their language.
The Essay on Teaching English in a World of Global Culture
Teaching English is it not an easy task, and as future teachers we must recognize that we are going to be dealing with groups of different individuals and not a single student with 40 faces. Student are different in many ways. Some are quick, others are slow. Some are confident, others are shy. Some like working on groups, others are happier working alone. However; what they do have in common is ...
However, killer languages play a role in suburban societies. Members of small linguistic groups change to a language of a higher rank in hierarchy in advantage of flexibility. For example a worker will find a job much easier if he or she applies in a wider area than just his or her local region. R.M.W. Dixon, who delved into the “Language loss in Australian Aboriginal languages”, has found out that parents even force their children to speak English at home and avoid code-switching to their indigenous vernacular to provide better chances for their future life. But a language which is no longer spoken has lost its intrinsic function. So by trying to survive in our capitalistic system of competition the actual victims are forced to support the process which debases their own culture.
Scientific researches like Dixon’s essay show that there are definitely killer languages at work. But is the English language guilty of having driven away so many languages? According to Brenzinger (1991, p.40), most of all dying languages are replaced by other regional languages with a higher rank in the hierarchy of languages rather than by a world language. In those few cases where languages are replaced by English there is nothing in the English language itself which makes it work as a killer language. The predominance of other European languages like Spanish, French and Portuguese during colonialism has wiped out Native’s languages in South America and Africa just as well as English has caused the loss of languages in North America and Australia.
The only distinctive feature the killer languages mentioned above have in common is that they are widely spread and that those who introduced the languages were in control of power. Now, in the after-colonial age the slogan “money makes the world go round” shows that the aspect of profit has a great impact on political decisions. Considering the fact that the US Dollar is the strongest currency on earth, it does not seem a coincident that English is the only candidate for a global language. The influence of English speaking business men has become another important fillip.
The Essay on English as a World Language
The global spread of English over the last 50 years is remarkable. It is unprecedented in several ways: by the increasing number of users of the language, by its depth of permeation [“pE:mI’eISn] into societies and its range of functions. There is a model consisting of 3 circles proposed by B.B. Kachru in 1982 in order to describe regional varieties of English. The 1st or inner circle ...
No matter how we evaluate the consequences, we can be sure that English as a global language will definitely come. A global tongue will always function as a killer language, so we will not be able to preserve all languages and their cultures. To say it frankly, the loss of individual culture is one of the prices for progress in our modern world. If we put the argumentation upside down we would have to propose : “Let us stop progress, stop scientific research and technological inventions. Let us stick to the status quo so we will save some languages!”. Who would agree? So we will have to pay the price for a global language. In my opinion the obvious thing to do is to teach people a skilful use of the English language now to let them participate in international communication so they as well will benefit from the advantages of a global tongue.
