English as a Global Language

What is a Global Language?


    At the height of the Roman Empire, Latin was the lingua franca of most of Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa
(from Wikipedia)
There is no official definition of "global" or "world" language, but it essentially refers to a language that is learned and spoken internationally, and is characterized not only by the number of its native and second language speakers, but also by its geographical distribution, and its use in international organizations and in diplomatic relations. A global language acts as a “lingua franca”, a common language that enables people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities to communicate on a more or less equitable basis.

Historically, the essential factor for the establishment of a global language is that it is spoken by those who wield power. Latin was the lingua franca of its time, although it was only ever a minority language within the Roman Empire as a whole. Crucially, though, it was the language of the powerful leaders and administrators and of the Roman military - and, later, of the ecclesiastical power of the Roman Catholic Church - and this is what drove its rise to (arguably) global language status. Thus, language can be said to have no independent existence of its own, and a particular language only dominates when its speakers dominate (and, by extension, fails when the people who speak it fail).

The influence of any language is a combination of three main things: the number of countries using it as their first language or mother-tongue, the number of countries adopting it as their official language, and the number of countries teaching it as their foreign language of choice in schools. The intrinsic structural qualities of a language, the size of its vocabulary, the quality of its literature throughout history, and its association with great cultures or religions, are all important factors in the popularity of any language. But, at base, history shows us that a language becomes a global language mainly due to the political power of its native speakers, and the economic power with which it is able to maintain and expand its position.



As global communication expands throughout the world, so does the need for a global language. A language that is recognized and understood by people everywhere. In many parts of the world that language has been established, English. In most countries around the globe the English language can be found in some form or another, whether it be an international news broadcast, such as CNN, or a Chicago Bulls tee-shirt. "What centuries of British colonialism and decades of Esperanto couldn’t do, a few years of free trade, MTV, and the Internet has. English dominates international business, politics, and culture more than any other language in human history." (Rohde) For this world to be truly global, there must be some commonality or ease of communication. "If trade and tourism around the world are going to operate and a global economy function and a global culture flourish, a widely shared, reasonably accessible language is requisite." (Stevenson) 


"A global economic and political structure needs a common tongue." (Stevenson) Everyone has their own reasons for the rise of English as the global language. However, there are some common traits between them.


 As you can see, there are many reasons associated with the rise of English as a global language. Most people agree that it has something to do with the emergence of the United States as a world superpower. The US has worked hard to reach the level of achievement and cultural clout that it has today, but in no way wishes to wipe out all other world cultures. The important thing to remember is: "A language becomes an international language for one chief reason: the political power of its people - especially their military power." (Guardian) 
English may not be the best choice, but it is the obvious choice, for an international language. Whether we like it or not, the English language is becoming the global language. 

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