In these years, there is a growing recognition that English is well on its way to becoming the dominant global language. The impact of this trend is a subject of intense debate, it is my opinion that advantages of a dominant global language will continue to outweigh its disadvantages.
The rise of a global language is a facilitator of cross cultural communication and the communication between people with different language backgrounds. In different areas of global communication, such as science and news, recognizing a common language removes communication barriers and increases convenience. On many formal occasions, English, as a working language, boosts efficiency and avoids misunderstanding. Likewise, the exchange of essential information like know-how and technologies will be tremendously prompted.
One might argue that the rise of a global language would endanger other languages, in belief that an increasing number of people have turned to English as their first language. This viewpoint is flawed. The spread of global English has little, if any, influence on non-English-speakers’ language proficiency. People might be motivated to learn English as a foreign language but do not necessarily drop their native language because learning beginners or intermediate level English is sufficient for day-to-day communication.
The dominance of English as a global language is, therefore, not a cause of the loss of language diversity. Its negative effect is reflected mainly in cultural imperialism. As international media recognizes English as its root language, most of the broadcast information is related to the lifestyle, norms and beliefs of English-speaking countries. It might over time put many minority cultures on the verge of extinction, when those ethnic groups gradually adopt the Western culture. The effects of shrinking cultural diversity are destructive, causing people to live in a simple and monotonous world and think and act in similar ways.
The development of English is overall, a positive global trend. It connects people who previously spoke different languages and enables them to exchange ideas, although it might lead to the loss of cultural diversity.
In these years, there is a growing recognition that English is well on its way to becoming the dominant
global
language
. The impact of this trend is a subject of intense debate, it is my opinion that advantages of a dominant
global
language
will continue to outweigh its disadvantages.
The rise of a
global
language
is a facilitator of cross
cultural
communication
and the
communication
between
people
with
different
language
backgrounds. In
different
areas of
global
communication
, such as science and news, recognizing a common
language
removes
communication
barriers and increases convenience. On
many
formal occasions, English, as a working
language
, boosts efficiency and avoids misunderstanding.
Likewise
, the exchange of essential information like know-how and technologies will be
tremendously
prompted.
One
might
argue that the rise of a
global
language
would endanger other
languages
, in belief that an increasing number of
people
have turned to English as their
first
language
. This viewpoint
is flawed
. The spread of
global
English has
little
, if any, influence on non-English-speakers’
language
proficiency.
People
might
be motivated
to learn English as a foreign
language
but
do not
necessarily
drop their native
language
because
learning beginners or intermediate level English is sufficient for day-to-day communication.
The dominance of English as a
global
language
is,
therefore
, not a cause of the loss of
language
diversity. Its
negative
effect
is reflected
mainly
in
cultural
imperialism. As international media recognizes English as its root
language
, most of the broadcast information
is related
to the lifestyle, norms and beliefs of English-speaking countries. It
might
over time put
many
minority cultures on the verge of extinction, when those ethnic groups
gradually
adopt the Western culture. The effects of shrinking
cultural
diversity are destructive, causing
people
to
live
in a simple and monotonous world and
think
and act in similar ways.
The development of English is
overall
, a
positive
global
trend. It connects
people
who previously spoke
different
languages
and enables them to exchange
ideas
, although it
might
lead to the loss of
cultural
diversity.