Introduction
In our increasingly small global community, the English language is experiencing a rapid metamorphosis and developing into a new medium of communication. English's status as a world language is being greatly impacted by the rapid changes in World Englishes, particularly in Asia and Africa. English has been criticized for being overused, but the evidence points to it being the dominant language in our globalized society. This article examines the causes of English's rise, examines conflicting points of view, and examines English's linguistic richness and adaptability, which make it a good contender to become the global language.
The Rise of English:
The use of English has increased dramatically on a global scale. With roughly 54% of online information being published in English, it is the language of the internet. Additionally, more than half of all technical and scientific magazines produced worldwide are in English. 118 countries use English as their native tongue, while 59 countries have made it an official language. Its enormous vocabulary, which the Oxford Dictionary estimates to number over 250,000 words, makes it essential for everyday conversation. The expansion and financial advantages of English are further aided by the influx of foreign students seeking education and language training in English-speaking nations.
Evidence:
1. English is the language on the internet. Nearly 54 % of content on the internet is in English.
2. More than 50 percent of the world’s technical and scientific periodicals are in English.
3. English is spoken in 118 countries.
4. English is recognized as an official language in 59 countries.
5. English has the most words (250,000 as per the Oxford Dictionary) of all languages. English language skills are an indispensable tool for daily communication with most of the outside world, either in professional or personal life.
6. Each year over 600,000(Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), UKCOSA, and others) international students from 200 countries come to study at universities, colleges, and boarding schools in the UK, and a further 600,000 come to do a short English language course. (London Economics (June 2011) BIS Research paper No.46: Estimating the Value to the UK of Education Exports).
7. The UK’s ELT industry has grown by 34 percent since 2000 and is currently worth over £2 billion annually to the UK economy. This figure rose to nearly £3 billion in 2020. The consultancy firm Brand Finance estimates that the full, long-term economic benefit to the UK through the use of English, in both international trade with English-speaking countries and in the domestic UK economy, is £405 billion. The Intellectual Property asset value is £101 billion.
8. UK was replaced by The USA as a global imperialist power and that saved English
9. There are currently around 7,000 languages being used today, with one language dying every two weeks. UNESCO says that half of the world's languages may vanish in a century's time. And, in India, 220 languages have died in the last 50 years and 197 languages are endangered.
10. King James Bible Translation
Examples of Hebrew idioms that have become English via the Bible include: "to set one's teeth on edge", "by the skin of one's teeth", "the land of the living" and "from strength to strength".
Challenges and Critics:
Opponents of English's dominance raise issues like linguistic imperialism and the declining number of native English speakers as justifications. They emphasize the need for linguistic diversity and the need of protecting other languages and cultures. These issues are real, yet they haven't stopped English from being widely spoken over the world. It has thrived and been able to satisfy the changing demands of communication in a diverse world thanks to its adaptability and capacity to incorporate different forms and variations.
Arguments against:
1. In the mid-20th century, nearly 9 percent of the world's population grew up speaking English as their first language. In 2050, the number is expected to be 5 percent. "Population growth amongst speakers of languages other than English has been greater," Graddol said
2. In Europe German has more presence than English.
3. The Rise of China:: Chinese — 1.3 Billion Native SpeakersNumbers vary widely — Ethnologue puts the number of native speakers at 1.3 billion native speakers, roughly 1.1 billion of whom speak Mandarin — but there's no doubt it's the most spoken language in the world.
4. 31,000 languages have existed in human history (and that's the lowest estimate). Currently, there are roughly six thousand languages spoken in the world. We don't know exactly, because we're just beginning to classify some languages in remote locations. But using conservative figures, something like 81% of all human languages have become extinct.
5. In 500 years’ time, will it be the case that everyone will automatically be introduced to English as soon as they are born (or, by then, very likely, as soon as they are conceived)? If this is part of a rich multilingual experience for our future newborns, this can only be a good thing. If it is by then the only language left to be learned, it will have been the greatest intellectual disaster that the planet has ever known. If there is a critical mass, does this mean that the emergence of a global language is a unique event, in evolutionary terms? It may be that English, in some shape or form, will find itself in the service of the world community forever. (The future of global English David CRYSTAL)
6. If we see the 12th-century maps English can not be spotted there as it was left out due to its insignificance. Utopia by Thomas Moore was published in 1629 in Latin, not in English. But today English is the order of the day.
7. Roman Empire/Byzantine Empire & Latin and Greek: Fall of Constantinople
Fall of Constantinople, (May 29, 1453), conquest of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire. The dwindling Byzantine Empire came to an end when the Ottomans breached Constantinople's ancient land wall after besieging the city for 55 days
Wordsworth in the tropics: daffodils mutate.
Out of the parley in the tents, a fresh
Vocabulary, equal, reconciling Englishes
Dismantle white umbras through synonyms
Translating psyches, achieving metaphors,
Defining room for mutual, fresh realities,
A calculus for fellowship of language
As power, as making, as release.
Edwin Thumboo (1993: 109)
However, there are some eminent scholars who vehemently oppose this notion on various grounds and wish to tear it apart and one of the reasons they propagate is linguistic imperialism as evident from the following extract:
… if I’m asked, “ Do you write correct English?,” I would say, “Of course, it’s correct. I’m the one writing it. You’re not the one writing it. It is correct.” In other words, we have our own — I sense this all the time — we have our own way of thinking. We have our own way of feeling, by which we then use this language called English. So that English is ours. We have colonized it too. Gemino Abad (1997: 17)
I opine that such critics are justified when they point out and expose some hidden or sinister motives under the guise of language and their arguments are weighty and quite convincing but, somehow these efforts have not been fruitful in blocking the rise of English as the world has not been deterred to embrace and own it as their common language of contact and English has adapted and absorbed the new challenges and its expanding and transforming linguistic features are paving the way for it(English) to become the only language of the world community on the basis of its rich linguistic diversity as Ana Maria Wetz aptly hinted: ” Diversity has become the marker of postmodern life.”
The English language has emerged as the new lingua franca of the globe as a result of numerous chronological and spatial factors.
Significance
Investigating the rise and spread of English is necessary, and looking into the significance of English as a global language is intriguing. The expansion and juxtaposition of various forms of English have led to the emergence of a new world language, which has been used to study the rapidly evolving dynamics of World Englishes and the transformation of this linguistic mongerialization—or rather, mineralization—into the new lingua franca of the world. Developments in the field of World Englishes and its emergence as a new form of global communication have been a primary focus.
Different Perspectives:
A thorough examination of the history and development of World Englishes is provided by Brutt-Griffler (2002). The book discusses a variety of subjects, including methodological issues in linguistic analysis, colonial language policy, the expansion of English, and the development of applied linguistics. It offers a historical view on the development of English, focusing on the sociolinguistic elements that have shaped it.
An unbiased account of the development and hegemony of English as a world language can be found in Crystal's 2003 book. The socioeconomic effects are covered in the book, and the contributions of communication and transportation innovations are highlighted. The knowledge is made interesting and accessible to a broad audience through Crystal's presentation.
The article by Ives-Keeler (2014) focuses on the development of international variants of World Englishes as well as the future of English. It investigates the function of advertising, language, and culture, as well as the incorporation of foreign terms into English dictionaries. The author explains how academics, instructors, and students can get ready for this future trend of English becoming the dominant language in the world.
A resource book on global English is made available to students by Jenkins (2015). The book discusses a number of topics, such as English's historical, social, and political background, variance across post-colonial Englishes, and English as a universal language. It provides in-depth coverage and promotes dialogue on the English language's explosive growth in a globalized society.
Lakoff and Johnson (2003) explore the influence of metaphors on how we think and speak. They talk about the various kinds of metaphors—such as structural, orientational, and imaginative metaphors—and how they affect how we interpret the world. For understanding the function of metaphors in the human mind and communication, the book offers a clear taxonomy and practical methods.
In the context of Pakistan, Mahboob (2009) studies English as an Islamic language. The study examines the connection between English and Islamic culture and values, taking into account things like the accessibility of local language content and the idea that English is crucial for future advancement. To explore the links between ideology and language, the author analyses writings written in various languages.
English language teaching (ELT) consequences are discussed by Pennycook (2007) in relation to colonialism and neo-colonialism. The author highlights concerns about how to teach English in a way that supports resistance and change while acknowledging colonial and post-colonial elements. Pennycook analyses methods of resistance in language education and draws attention to the connection between ELT and cultural neo-colonialism.
The impact of linguistic imperialism on the predominance of particular languages, particularly English, is examined by Phillipson (1992). The book discusses topics like the British Empire's language policies, the spread of English abroad, and the marginalization of other tongues. It illustrates the discrimination experienced by linguistic minorities and the danger to their languages.
Emerging Varieties and World Englishes:
English is no longer restricted to a single standardized form, as seen by Emerging Varieties and World Englishes. It has developed into a wide variety of World Englishes that reflect the linguistic and cultural influences of various geographic areas. Hinglish, Singlish, and Nigerian English are just a few examples of the Asian and African dialects that have gained popularity and are changing how people speak English. These variants show how adaptable and elastic English is, allowing it to take into account various linguistic influences and foster a sense of camaraderie and understanding.
The Linguistic Future:
Even if English seems to be the world's primary language for the time being, it is important to think about the language's future. It is appropriate to address the spread of Chinese as a worldwide tongue as well as the historical background of languages that have gained and lost popularity. However, it seems likely that English will continue to be used as the universal language because of its versatility, vast usage, and lack of a strong rival.
Conclusion
The transformation of English into a universal "lingua franca" was influenced by a number of historical, cultural, and technological variables. English has established itself as the universal language thanks to its versatility, linguistic diversity, and widespread acceptability, despite the legitimate concerns voiced by critics. The shifting characteristics of World Englishes demonstrate the language's capacity to reflect and assimilate other cultures and identities. Despite the fact that the future of global English is still unknown, the language's continual development and alteration clearly position it as a tool for international communication. For last year's words belong to last year's language, and next year's words await another voice, as T.S. Eliot so beautifully put it.
Sources:
J. Brutt-Griffler
David Crystal
K. Ives-Keeler
Jennifer Jenkins
George Lakoff
Mark Johnson
A. Mahboob
A. Pennycook
4. English is recognized as an official language in 59 countries.
5. English has the most words (250,000 as per the Oxford Dictionary) of all languages. English language skills are an indispensable tool for daily communication with most of the outside world, either in professional or personal life.
6. Each year over 600,000(Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), UKCOSA, and others) international students from 200 countries come to study at universities, colleges, and boarding schools in the UK, and a further 600,000 come to do a short English language course. (London Economics (June 2011) BIS Research paper No.46: Estimating the Value to the UK of Education Exports).
7. The UK’s ELT industry has grown by 34 percent since 2000 and is currently worth over £2 billion annually to the UK economy. This figure rose to nearly £3 billion in 2020. The consultancy firm Brand Finance estimates that the full, long-term economic benefit to the UK through the use of English, in both international trade with English-speaking countries and in the domestic UK economy, is £405 billion. The Intellectual Property asset value is £101 billion.
8. UK was replaced by The USA as a global imperialist power and that saved English
9. There are currently around 7,000 languages being used today, with one language dying every two weeks. UNESCO says that half of the world's languages may vanish in a century's time. And, in India, 220 languages have died in the last 50 years and 197 languages are endangered.
10. King James Bible Translation
Examples of Hebrew idioms that have become English via the Bible include: "to set one's teeth on edge", "by the skin of one's teeth", "the land of the living" and "from strength to strength".
Challenges and Critics:
Opponents of English's dominance raise issues like linguistic imperialism and the declining number of native English speakers as justifications. They emphasize the need for linguistic diversity and the need of protecting other languages and cultures. These issues are real, yet they haven't stopped English from being widely spoken over the world. It has thrived and been able to satisfy the changing demands of communication in a diverse world thanks to its adaptability and capacity to incorporate different forms and variations.
Arguments against:
1. In the mid-20th century, nearly 9 percent of the world's population grew up speaking English as their first language. In 2050, the number is expected to be 5 percent. "Population growth amongst speakers of languages other than English has been greater," Graddol said
2. In Europe German has more presence than English.
3. The Rise of China:: Chinese — 1.3 Billion Native SpeakersNumbers vary widely — Ethnologue puts the number of native speakers at 1.3 billion native speakers, roughly 1.1 billion of whom speak Mandarin — but there's no doubt it's the most spoken language in the world.
4. 31,000 languages have existed in human history (and that's the lowest estimate). Currently, there are roughly six thousand languages spoken in the world. We don't know exactly, because we're just beginning to classify some languages in remote locations. But using conservative figures, something like 81% of all human languages have become extinct.
5. In 500 years’ time, will it be the case that everyone will automatically be introduced to English as soon as they are born (or, by then, very likely, as soon as they are conceived)? If this is part of a rich multilingual experience for our future newborns, this can only be a good thing. If it is by then the only language left to be learned, it will have been the greatest intellectual disaster that the planet has ever known. If there is a critical mass, does this mean that the emergence of a global language is a unique event, in evolutionary terms? It may be that English, in some shape or form, will find itself in the service of the world community forever. (The future of global English David CRYSTAL)
6. If we see the 12th-century maps English can not be spotted there as it was left out due to its insignificance. Utopia by Thomas Moore was published in 1629 in Latin, not in English. But today English is the order of the day.
7. Roman Empire/Byzantine Empire & Latin and Greek: Fall of Constantinople
Fall of Constantinople, (May 29, 1453), conquest of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire. The dwindling Byzantine Empire came to an end when the Ottomans breached Constantinople's ancient land wall after besieging the city for 55 days
Wordsworth in the tropics: daffodils mutate.
Out of the parley in the tents, a fresh
Vocabulary, equal, reconciling Englishes
Dismantle white umbras through synonyms
Translating psyches, achieving metaphors,
Defining room for mutual, fresh realities,
A calculus for fellowship of language
As power, as making, as release.
Edwin Thumboo (1993: 109)
However, there are some eminent scholars who vehemently oppose this notion on various grounds and wish to tear it apart and one of the reasons they propagate is linguistic imperialism as evident from the following extract:
… if I’m asked, “ Do you write correct English?,” I would say, “Of course, it’s correct. I’m the one writing it. You’re not the one writing it. It is correct.” In other words, we have our own — I sense this all the time — we have our own way of thinking. We have our own way of feeling, by which we then use this language called English. So that English is ours. We have colonized it too. Gemino Abad (1997: 17)
I opine that such critics are justified when they point out and expose some hidden or sinister motives under the guise of language and their arguments are weighty and quite convincing but, somehow these efforts have not been fruitful in blocking the rise of English as the world has not been deterred to embrace and own it as their common language of contact and English has adapted and absorbed the new challenges and its expanding and transforming linguistic features are paving the way for it(English) to become the only language of the world community on the basis of its rich linguistic diversity as Ana Maria Wetz aptly hinted: ” Diversity has become the marker of postmodern life.”
The English language has emerged as the new lingua franca of the globe as a result of numerous chronological and spatial factors.
Significance
Investigating the rise and spread of English is necessary, and looking into the significance of English as a global language is intriguing. The expansion and juxtaposition of various forms of English have led to the emergence of a new world language, which has been used to study the rapidly evolving dynamics of World Englishes and the transformation of this linguistic mongerialization—or rather, mineralization—into the new lingua franca of the world. Developments in the field of World Englishes and its emergence as a new form of global communication have been a primary focus.
Different Perspectives:
A thorough examination of the history and development of World Englishes is provided by Brutt-Griffler (2002). The book discusses a variety of subjects, including methodological issues in linguistic analysis, colonial language policy, the expansion of English, and the development of applied linguistics. It offers a historical view on the development of English, focusing on the sociolinguistic elements that have shaped it.
An unbiased account of the development and hegemony of English as a world language can be found in Crystal's 2003 book. The socioeconomic effects are covered in the book, and the contributions of communication and transportation innovations are highlighted. The knowledge is made interesting and accessible to a broad audience through Crystal's presentation.
The article by Ives-Keeler (2014) focuses on the development of international variants of World Englishes as well as the future of English. It investigates the function of advertising, language, and culture, as well as the incorporation of foreign terms into English dictionaries. The author explains how academics, instructors, and students can get ready for this future trend of English becoming the dominant language in the world.
A resource book on global English is made available to students by Jenkins (2015). The book discusses a number of topics, such as English's historical, social, and political background, variance across post-colonial Englishes, and English as a universal language. It provides in-depth coverage and promotes dialogue on the English language's explosive growth in a globalized society.
Lakoff and Johnson (2003) explore the influence of metaphors on how we think and speak. They talk about the various kinds of metaphors—such as structural, orientational, and imaginative metaphors—and how they affect how we interpret the world. For understanding the function of metaphors in the human mind and communication, the book offers a clear taxonomy and practical methods.
In the context of Pakistan, Mahboob (2009) studies English as an Islamic language. The study examines the connection between English and Islamic culture and values, taking into account things like the accessibility of local language content and the idea that English is crucial for future advancement. To explore the links between ideology and language, the author analyses writings written in various languages.
English language teaching (ELT) consequences are discussed by Pennycook (2007) in relation to colonialism and neo-colonialism. The author highlights concerns about how to teach English in a way that supports resistance and change while acknowledging colonial and post-colonial elements. Pennycook analyses methods of resistance in language education and draws attention to the connection between ELT and cultural neo-colonialism.
The impact of linguistic imperialism on the predominance of particular languages, particularly English, is examined by Phillipson (1992). The book discusses topics like the British Empire's language policies, the spread of English abroad, and the marginalization of other tongues. It illustrates the discrimination experienced by linguistic minorities and the danger to their languages.
Emerging Varieties and World Englishes:
English is no longer restricted to a single standardized form, as seen by Emerging Varieties and World Englishes. It has developed into a wide variety of World Englishes that reflect the linguistic and cultural influences of various geographic areas. Hinglish, Singlish, and Nigerian English are just a few examples of the Asian and African dialects that have gained popularity and are changing how people speak English. These variants show how adaptable and elastic English is, allowing it to take into account various linguistic influences and foster a sense of camaraderie and understanding.
The Linguistic Future:
Even if English seems to be the world's primary language for the time being, it is important to think about the language's future. It is appropriate to address the spread of Chinese as a worldwide tongue as well as the historical background of languages that have gained and lost popularity. However, it seems likely that English will continue to be used as the universal language because of its versatility, vast usage, and lack of a strong rival.
Conclusion
The transformation of English into a universal "lingua franca" was influenced by a number of historical, cultural, and technological variables. English has established itself as the universal language thanks to its versatility, linguistic diversity, and widespread acceptability, despite the legitimate concerns voiced by critics. The shifting characteristics of World Englishes demonstrate the language's capacity to reflect and assimilate other cultures and identities. Despite the fact that the future of global English is still unknown, the language's continual development and alteration clearly position it as a tool for international communication. For last year's words belong to last year's language, and next year's words await another voice, as T.S. Eliot so beautifully put it.
Sources:
J. Brutt-Griffler
David Crystal
K. Ives-Keeler
Jennifer Jenkins
George Lakoff
Mark Johnson
A. Mahboob
A. Pennycook
