Preview

English as an International Language

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
5090 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
English as an International Language
Cojocaru Olga-Georgiana, Master STA, anul I,sem. I

ENGLISH AS AN INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE

Abstract

This paper is intended to raise awareness on the aspects which define English as an international language, by examining the characteristics of an international language, the number of users, how it spread to reach global status, what factors may impede its continued spread and what dangers are involved in the development of English as an international language.

English’s international status is determined by a constellation of political, economic, demographic and social factors being a communication bridge across linguistic and cultural boundaries.

English is a language studied by more and more individuals as an additional language, it is central cu a growing global economy and it is the major language of a developing mass culture The main point of this paper is the idea that learning an international language is different and has other implications than learning other foreign languages. It has the particularity of belonging to the people who use it, not to only one country.

Key words: international language, spread of English, wider communication

Today’s society is more and more involved in the study of English. The interest in the learning of this language has increased so much that is now considered by many an international language. English has a wide territorial reach and its domination at global scale is now undeniable. The language plays an important role as a language of diplomacy and international communications, business, tourism, education, science, computer technology, media and Internet. It is a fact that English is frequently used in official documents of many international organizations, treaties, contracts



References: Brutt-Griffler, J. 2002. World English: A Study of its Development. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. Crystal, D. 1997. English as a Global Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Graddol, D. 1997. The Future of English. London: The British Council. Kachru, B. B. 1989. ‘Teaching world Englishes.’ Indian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 15/1: 85-95. Krauss, M. 1992 ‘The world’s languages in crisis.’ Language 68/1: 7-9. Martin, R. 2000. ‘Temple University Japan, summer seminar project assignment’, unpublished manuscript. McKay, S. L. 2002. Teaching English as an International Language: Rethinking Goals and Approaches. New York: Oxford University Press. Phillipson, R. 1992. Linguistic imperialism. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Smith, L. 1976. ‘English as an international auxiliary language.’ RELC Journal 7/2:38-43. Swerdlow, J. L. 1999. ‘Global village’, National Geographic 196/2: 2-6. Tollefson, J. W. 1991. Planning Language, Planning Inequality. London: Longman. Widdowson, H. G. 1997. ‘EIL, ESL, EFL: global issues and local interests.’ World Englishes 16/1: 135-46.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Apush Chapter 33

    • 1704 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The importance of English as a global language is evident in the emergence of an international literature in English.…

    • 1704 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    A well-known musician once said, “ Realistically, English is a universal language; it’s the number one language…for communicating with the rest of the world.” English is the most widely used language in the history of the world. In 2015, there were sixty-seven sovereign states and twenty-seven non-sovereign entities where English was an official language. Additionally, many country’s subdivisions have declared English an official language at the local or regional level. Despite being the most widely used language in the world, English varies from country to country, and even from region to region! Each variety of English has its own set of rules and guidelines, as a result, a universal standard had to be proposed (The History of English: Origins…

    • 1277 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Nowadays, all people say that English is the most essential and easiest language that people could use to communicate in different countries. As I read thoroughly the two articles, which are called “ English seen as a Co-star among Global Language” and “Can English be Dethroned”, I’ve found out that people more commonly accept using English as a second language in the 21st century. We all understand the fact that English has been growing in popularity largely as economic globalization is getting bigger. The benefits of English as a common language for communication and interaction far outweigh any possible disadvantages that it might have. English is a global language not because the world shows respect to it by accepting it as a global language because it has the characteristics of a global language.…

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In why a Global Language, author David Crystal explains what a global language is, how English has become the global language of today, and also why it is important for the world to have a global language.…

    • 2131 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    Hewings, A., (2012) Learning English, Learning Through English, In A. Hewings & C. Tagg, (eds)(2012) The Politics of English: Conflict, Competition, Co-existence, Abingdon, Routledge/ Milton Keynes, The Open University.…

    • 1861 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    English speakers in the world including those who are in the inner circle, outer circle and expanding circle had reached to 380 millions of people since 2001. The finding shows how influential English Language is. Gradually, English become the international lingua franca, “utilized outside of the country or countries of its origin.”( Subject Area - English Language Essays) The Lingua Franca There are both pros and cons of English becoming the international lingua franca.…

    • 775 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Bibliography: Acar, Ahmet. "Standard and Competence in English as an International Language Pedagogy." Asian EFL Journal (2007).…

    • 2821 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    As an English major and a bilingual person, it’s hard to jump out of the box and deny the deep, great, far-reaching influence and outspread of English. It seems true that English has become the universal language─the one accredited language to use in professional academic fields, the almost instinctive choice of language for people to speak in foreign countries, remarkably the none-English-speaking ones, and a universally basic personal asset to survive in the modern society. Yet to think of how English obtained its status quo as a world language and the uncertainty of its future, it would be too imprudent to say that English will still definitely be the global language in the future.…

    • 1113 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The first surveys the extent of its use around the world and briefly outlines the history of its spread. The second examines some nineteenth century ideas about the place of English in the world and the foundations for its success laid by the British Empire and the Industrial Revolution. The third describes the cultural legacy that underpins the present dominance of English — its use in diplomacy and international communications, in the media (Hollywood, popular music, books), in education, and on the Internet. The final chapter looks at the future of English as a global language, focusing on debates about its status within the United States and the possibility of its fragmentation into regional dialects (Crystal suggests these might end up coexisting with some form of "World Standard Spoken English").…

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    In this essay I will focus on one of the burning questions on ' Whose English is it, anyway?' and will also review the role of the English language as a Lingua Franca.…

    • 2149 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    English becomes a global language of communication perception of English - a language of cultural prestige the promotion of monolingualism and monolingual mentality is set in favour of English! Monolingualism in favour of English - regarded as a guarantee,a necessary precondition to modernity and progress multilingualism - associated with underdevelopment and economic, social and political backwardness…

    • 488 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    English Global Language

    • 4354 Words
    • 18 Pages

    Abstract: This paper discusses English as a global language. The description of its history is offered to enable us to detect the underlying motivation of spreading English world-wide. How English plays a role on the death of other languages is presented to make us aware of preserving our own language, while making use of English. The future of English is predicted to give us a direction to our activities in relation to a possible future of English. Key words: English, global language, history, future.…

    • 4354 Words
    • 18 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    English as an Academic Lingua Franca, as an example of the global impact of the…

    • 1221 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    McKay, S. L., 2002. Teaching English as an international language: rethinking goals and approaches. Oxford: Oxford University Press.…

    • 1638 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    English as a medium of instruction – a growing global phenomenon: phase 1 Interim report April 2014 Author: Julie Dearden, Senior Research and Development Fellow, English as Medium of Instruction (EMI), Department of Education, University of Oxford www.britishcouncil.org/education/ihe Going Global 2014 1 Introduction There is a fast-moving worldwide shift from English being taught as a foreign language (EFL) to English being the medium of instruction (EMI) for academic subjects such as science, mathematics, geography and medicine. EMI is increasingly being used in universities, secondary schools and even primary schools. This phenomenon has very important implications for the education of young people and policy decisions in non-anglophone countries.…

    • 2832 Words
    • 23 Pages
    Powerful Essays