GLOBAL LANGUAGES CHAPTER 1 WHAT IS A GLOBAL

GLOBAL LANGUAGES CHAPTER 1

WHAT IS A GLOBAL LANGUAGE? • There is no official definition of "global" or "world" language, but it essentially refers to a language that is learned and spoken internationally. • It 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.

WHY IS GLOBAL LANGUAGE NEEDED? • It is often argued that the modern “global village” needs a “global language”, and that in a world of modern communications, globalized trade and easy international travel, a single lingua franca has never been more important. • With the advent of large international bodies such as the United Nations and its various offshoots - the UN now has over 50 different agencies and programs from the World Bank, WHO and UNICEF, running throughout the world, hence the pressure to establish a worldwide lingua franca has never been greater.

• As just one example of why a lingua franca is useful, consider that up to one-third of the administration costs of the European Community is taken up by translations into the various member languages. • Some have seen a planned or constructed language as a solution to this need. In the short period between 1880 and 1907, no less than 53 such “universal artificial languages” were developed. • Many of these universal languages were specifically developed with the view in mind that a single world language would automatically lead to world peace and unity.

HOW HAVE GLOBAL LANGUAGES EVEOLVED OVER THE CENTURIES? • Perceptions of linguistic superiority or inferiority are based on power, class, and social status. Historically, it was languages that were swept in with strong political, economic, or religious backing—Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, and Chinese in the Eurasian core— that were held to be the oldest, the holiest, and the most perfect in structure, their “classical” status cemented by the received weight of canonical tradition. • By the 19 th century, the imperial nation-states of Europe were politely shunting them off to the museum and imposing their own equivalents: newly standardized “modern” languages like English and French.

• The evolution of language thus largely depends on WHO speaks it. Complexity of grammatical construction or ease of learning have nothing to do with it. • Greek became an important language in Middle East 2, 000 years ago because of the military command of Alexander the Great and his expansionist policies. Latin spread over Europe as a result of the supremacy of the Roman Empire. Arabic became widespread in northern Africa and Middle East due to the spread of Islam. English rose with the industrial revolution and colonization of the British Empire, and the economical productivity and prosperity of USA.

DISADVANATGES OF GLOBAL LANGUAGES • Linguistic Power: a global language might cultivate an elite class with native speakers, who take advantage of the possibility to think and work quickly in their mother tongue and in this way create a linguistic gap between people. • Linguistic Complacency: a global language may make people lazy about learning other languages, or reduce their opportunities to do so. • Linguistic Demise: An introduction of a global language might lead to discrimination of other languages. Losing a language equals losing identity. The language is much more than just a tool for communication.

• Linguistic Bankruptcy: the chosen language may become very technical and impoverished for nonnative speakers, e. g. the Eskimos, who have several words for “snow”, because they need it. They might not be able to express themselves properly if they only had one word for snow. With only one language, people would feel “poor” when it comes to expressing their thoughts in a language that is not their mother tongue. • Threat of Social Clash: The use of one single language in a community is no guarantee for social harmony or mutual understanding. This has been proven several times during the history, e. g. American Civil War, Spanish Civil War, and former Yugoslavia. • Threat of Losing Identity: It is important for people to remember their roots, and language is a very integral part of one's identity. English is closely linked to the British and the American cultures and history and is therefore not a “neutral” language. People whose languages are being lost because of the dominance of the English language, may lose their identities.

HOWEVER…. • Teaching the language at an early age can give people the same edge with the global language- two-thirds of children in the world live in a bilingual environment. • The need to attract foreign investors, boost trade and respect of other cultures has lead to an eagerness to learn foreign languages. • It is possible to create a world of intelligibility and identity together: a bilingual environment can give access to the world community as well as local individuality.

The Benefits of a Global Language • Wide use in economic, politic, and scientific fields as well as the main tool of communication in media such as radio, television, newspaper, and even internet. • Communication: It will put you in touch with more people than any other language. People from all corners of the world can communicate easier because t hey share a common language. • The world is becoming increasingly more and more globalised. Countries are more interdependent than ever and with the advances that we have seen in technology in the last few decades, communication is instantaneous. For us to be able to effectively communicate, especially within fields such as international trade and economics, as well as diplomacy, a common working language is key.

• Media can conveniently inform us about the most recent news from all over the world. People can use the Internet as a tool for resear ch, which means more people are being educated about different issues. • Global language is used in business. In trade or business area, English is a medium of communication among businessmen throughout the world.

• English is now used almost exclusively as the language of science. The adoption of a de facto universal language of science has had an extraordinary effect on scientific communication: by learning a single language, scientists around the world gain access to the vast scientific literature and can communicate with other scientists anywhere in the world. • Another language added to many people’s vocabulary.

The Current Global Language: English

• English seems to be emerging, if it has not already arrived, as a global language. • It is estimated that the number of native English speakers is 300 million to 450 million. More than one billion people are believed to speak some form of English. Although the numbers vary, it is widely accepted that hundreds of millions of people around the world speak English, whether as a native, second or a foreign language. • English, in some form, has become the native or unofficial language of a majority of the countries around the world today. In 20 to 30 countries around the world, English is merging with native languages to create hybrid ‘Englishes’. English is the only language used in international air traffic control and is virtually the only language of a whole range of other activities from scientific research to pop music.

REFERENCES • http: //www. thehistoryofenglish. com/issues_g lobal. html • http: //tanvirdhaka. blogspot. com/2011/10/da ngers-of-global-language. html

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