For Europeans, discussions about the globalization of the English language and securing its international status are by no means empty talk. Many questions still remain open. Is it really modern? English language- the optimal means for communication between people of different nationalities? Or is it becoming a threat to the diversity of national cultures and languages? Are there other ways (languages) of communication in the global community?
This topic is also relevant for Russia, which is also trying to feel like part of an integrated world, and it is very important whether Russia and this world find a common language.
Interestingly, the term “global” in relation to English is only used in English! This fact only emphasizes the uniqueness of the English language. But this does not mean that it should become the same for everyone. Note that global, or international, English differs significantly from British English. It turns out that it is not the official language of any European country. At the same time, ironically, international English has isolated the British in Europe; they seem to have fallen out of the general European context. Most English people, because they speak the most universal language, rarely feel the desire, and even less the need, to learn any European language. But it is multilingualism and cultural diversity that is the quintessence of both Europe and Russia...
Need in common language comes from the depths of centuries. One might think of the Tower of Babel or the relatively recent attempts to create a common language, Esperanto. As history has shown, both were doomed to failure.
It is pointless to discuss the concept of “global English” without first understanding the diversity that a simpler phrase carries. There are three types of English in the world.
English as a native language
First of all, English, like any other language, reflects the culture and thinking of the people for whom it is native. British, Americans, Canadians, Australians, etc. - they all speak their own dialects of English. The English language, on the one hand, unites them, and the local dialect, on the other hand, distinguishes them from each other. Thus, English, like French, Portuguese and Spanish, is not homogeneous. These four languages were taken from Europe to other parts of the world during the colonial conquest and were destined to change in different geographical, historical and cultural environments. The contradiction was inherent even then: this common language seems to unite English-speaking people on different continents, and at the same time its variations create a barrier between them.
English as a second language
This category includes local variations of English in countries where it is native to non-native speakers. large quantity privileged population, is considered the second state language or is used to communicate with foreigners. None of the countries using such variations are European: these are India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Philippines, Nigeria, Uganda, etc.
Former colonies used the language of the colonialists, transforming it into their own. In these countries English has a lot of national characteristics and borrowings from local languages. Thus, in the Philippines the adjective imeldific is used. It is based on the name of the former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos, and it means excessive ostentation or bad taste. In Malaysia, "half past six" not only means the time of day, but also a derogatory remark about someone or something useless. The onomatopoeic word "tuk-tuk" (tuk-tuk) was invented by the Thais for local motorcycle taxis.
Global English
As for “international English,” one can only wonder and wonder why, despite the current historical, political and economic context in Europe, it has become a universal language, which is called a lingua franca. Its dominance is so strong that even the ever-reluctant France was forced to admit that English could no longer be considered a foreign language.
Story
The answer, as always, lies in history. The English language was taken by English emigrants to North America and other parts of the world. In addition, England spread its language to all conquered countries, former colonies of the British Empire. Figuratively speaking, England stretched a cultural and linguistic bridge across the ocean, connecting continents.
But the United States was created by emigrants not only from Great Britain. People from all over Europe and other countries have flocked to this country. The new nation needed a unifying element that would help overcome national and linguistic differences. This role was fulfilled by the English language.
American English
But despite this, the native languages of the emigrants were able to transform the original English language, making it more flexible and open to change. This new language, commonly referred to as "American English", crossed the Atlantic and returned to Europe in the 20th century, mainly after the Second World War.
The language acquired this new appearance over the 150-year history of continuous emigration to the United States. Nowadays, American English is the language of an economic, military and political superpower.
Over time, American influence only increased. The globalization of trade, economics, and the spread of the American way of life—what is called “Americanization”—has also contributed to the globalization of American English. Borrowings from American began to appear in other languages.
For example, the word “business” is initially associated with intense activity and a specific approach to time; it reflects precisely American reality. It is believed that the word “business” comes from the word “busyness” and has a positive connotation. The specifics of American English gave rise to a new name for it: the French linguist Claude Agege called American English a “convenient language” (americain de commodite). One can agree with his very witty statement that “a world economic power is as destined to promote its language as it is to conquer markets for the sale of its products, and these two facts are closely related: the spread of its language opens the way for the export of its products.” It is even easier to agree that “of all the languages on the planet, English is the most flexible and most responsive to changing realities, and it is the first to reflect these new realities.”
With global markets and a global network of entertainment and travel comes global communication in an international language.
E-mail and the Internet are used all over the world today, and it is undoubtedly very convenient, fast and effective remedy communication. People in different countries are forced to adapt to the language and features of electronic means of communication, which were created, naturally, for the English language. To communicate in another language, they have to resort to various technical tricks. For example, superscript characters adopted in various European languages cannot be used in most programs Email, the same applies to non-Latin alphabets (Russian, Greek, Chinese, Japanese, etc.).
All these communication innovations divide people, leaving behind those who do not understand English.
Based on materials Institute of Information and Management Technologies
Knowledge of the English language is simply necessary for a person in the 21st century, starting from simple communication, ending with a new gadget, everywhere today a person feels the need to know English.
You've probably thought more than once about why English became an international language. This question is really very interesting, because you can imagine a world where all programs on a personal computer are created on the basis of the Russian language, a world where in any country in the world you will be greeted at a hotel reception in Russian. So why did English take the place of the international language?
Let's start with the fact that the need for some kind of international language has been brewing for a long time; people needed to conduct religious and intellectual disputes, connect states, integrate, and resolve geopolitical issues. The process of exchanging information required a solution from the world; one language was needed in which everyone could understand each other.
Let's look far into history, for 1300 years the main language of Western Christian tradition was Latin. This is the language of all services, all religious texts, church hymns, religious debates of the time. All scientists of the era The Renaissance spoke Latin.
Over time, the formation of national cultures took place, and then the connection between Latin and the religious intellectual tradition was gradually destroyed. Yes, the countries used Latin, but people still spoke their own languages and dialects. Gradually, people began to contact the church with a request to conduct services in the local language, as it would be more convenient.
This is how texts like the English King James Bible, published in 1611, and the German Martin Luther Bible, published about 100 years before the English text, began to appear.
What happened next was that soldiers, sailors, colonialists who spoke English traveled around the world and settled in the countries of other peoples. English was not used then only in countries that retained independence; Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Dutch were spoken there.
But already in the twentieth century, national literature and languages began to be perceived as a source of pride, and it was at that moment that the ideas of nationalism flourished. At the same time, organizations such as the League of Nations, now known throughout the world as the UN, began to appear.
The problem was that communication between countries required a universal language; the constant use of translators did not lead to anything good. It was then that the language known as Esperanto was created, the most famous of the experimental, universal languages.
These experiments were not successful, but the growth of the British Empire and the increasing influence of the strongest member of the former British Empire, the United States, led to the fact that English began to be spoken all over the world.
If we are talking about modernity, then the increasing influence of the English language is happening without the knowledge of the party itself, we are talking about technology, radio, television, CDs, the Internet. Take, for example, the fact that millions of people around the world grew up listening to English-language music.
And what can we say about Hollywood films, many people learned spoken English from subtitles alone. Now a huge number of inquisitive inhabitants of our planet are studying Chinese; it is quite possible that in another century Chinese will become the language of international communication. So, in any case, the more languages you know, the easier your life will be. Any language is useful knowledge.
Humanity has always needed an international language. And once upon a time this was connected, first of all, with the need to conduct disputes on scientific and religious topics. But along with technical progress, technology development, international language became necessary, first of all, for the exchange of information.
Ubiquitous
All more people Are you wondering why English is an international language? This is due, first of all, to its widespread distribution. For many, this causes open dissatisfaction, because this is seen as an immediate threat to cultures different countries. Many of their residents feel that English is unceremoniously invading their lives.
Typically, a language becomes widespread due to a technological breakthrough in the country for which it is native. For example, during the era of the development of shipbuilding, many specific terms from this area entered many languages, including Russian - “shipyard”, “barge”, “harbour”. Emperor Peter I himself was extremely dissatisfied with the use of foreign terms and demanded that new words be introduced only in cases of extreme need.
Continuing the search for an answer to the question of why English is an international language, it is also worth turning to the history of political contacts with France, which at one time led to the widespread spread of French. Political and cultural connections that took place in the 18th-19th centuries led to the appearance of a large number of new words in the Russian language, such as “boot”, “poster”, “garrison” and others. At that time, France was one of the military leaders, as well as a trendsetter - this explains the rapid spread French and the massive introduction of foreign vocabulary in other countries.
Colonization of other countries by Great Britain
Another reason why English has become an international language is the authority of Great Britain as a state. The power had a large number of colonies around the world. This contributed to the widespread spread of English in Asian and African countries. Willy-nilly, those peoples who were under her rule had to learn new words and read literature in English. Over time, Great Britain further strengthened its dominance. This gradually led to the widespread spread of the language.
Influence of other languages
Those who are interested in why English is an international language will probably be interested in M. Lomonosov’s position on the excessive use of foreign terms in the Russian language. To counter the dissolution of the native language in foreign lexical units, Mikhail Vasilyevich wrote special labor- “Preface on the benefits of church books.” It is worth noting that during this era, the Russian language was influenced not only by French, but also by other languages - for example, Italian. From it words such as “opera”, “aria”, “tenor” migrated into our speech.
There are many objective reasons why English is an international language. One of the main ones is the invention of the computer in the United States and its further development software. Considering how important these inventions are for everything modern world, it becomes obvious that the spread of English in other countries is inevitable.
What is the basis for widespread interest in language?
On the one hand, Russia has always been an opponent of the United States, but on the other, since the 40s of the last century, on the territory of the then Soviet Union Youth groups began to emerge, which were branded by the state as “fans of the West.”
But what is characteristic of these subcultures (and what causes the greatest sadness) is that they had very little interest in the culture of England or the United States. It was not the works of Shakespeare or Dreiser that caused their delight. And not at all the scientific research of Western researchers. These young people were more attracted not by the culture of the Western world, but by the mass market, limitless consumption. These sentiments have existed to this day, and not only in the post-Soviet space. The spread of pop culture also explains why English is an international language.
Where are the most English speakers?
English speech can be heard in many different countries of the world. It is worth noting that this language is not the most widespread and is second to Chinese. In total, there are more than 80 English-speaking countries in the world - those in which English is recognized as the state language. Where are these states located?
- In Asia - for example, India, Pakistan, the Philippines;
- In Africa - Tanzania, Sudan, Kenya;
- In America - Jamaica, Grenada, Barbados;
- In Oceania - Samoa, Solomon Islands.
Most of these states are former British colonies. And Britain's influence was not only economic, but also cultural and scientific. In addition to these states, it is also worth highlighting the main ones besides the UK: Australia, Ireland, Canada, USA, New Zealand.
Number of Anglophones on the planet
Of course, the English language is most associated with countries such as America and Great Britain. In many countries it is also a popular second language. Total English-speaking population - 380 million people. There are about a million language learners on the planet. English is a foreign language for 750 million people. But how many people speak English in total? The answer can be given as follows: every fifth person can speak this language to one degree or another.
It is also worth adding that about 80% of all sites on the Internet are also written in the language of the inhabitants of Foggy Albion. For comparison, the next line in the ranking is occupied by the German language, and then by Japanese.
The need to learn English in the modern world
English was able to achieve international status thanks to its application in the business world. All industrial products must indicate the country of origin in English, for example: “Made in France”. This is the language that transnational corporations have chosen for themselves.
English is also replacing European languages in the political sphere. It is the official language of organizations such as UNESCO or the UN. In addition, English can be found everywhere in the cultural sphere. Young people all over the planet love the songs of Madonna, Michael Jackson, and the Beatles.
Why is language needed?
English is needed by both businessmen and those who love to travel. When on vacation, knowledge of a foreign language is useful to everyone - for example, to place an order in a restaurant, to understand what the guide is talking about. Also, knowledge of the language of Foggy Albion will be useful for those who wanted to expand their professional knowledge by reading specialized literature in English. Those who would simply like to get acquainted with the culture of the country will also enjoy reading fiction books. For example:
- Virginia Woolf's "The Canterville Ghost";
- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button;
- J. London "Steppenwolf";
- W. Shakespeare "King Lear".
Another undeniable advantage is the opportunity to expand your social circle. After all, now, using the Internet, you can talk with a person from anywhere in the world - just know the language. English helps you find new friends and make life more interesting and varied.
Also, those who own a foreign language have more earning opportunities. Such a specialist can help with translation and earn money at the same time.
US politics at the beginning of the 20th century.
Another reason for the spread of English was the conquest of the New World. Initially, in addition to this language, Spanish, French, and Dutch were also common in America. But at the beginning of the last century, the country was faced with the question of state unity. Something had to serve as a unifying factor, and the language of Foggy Albion served as this link connecting different territories.
Now America is known as one of the main English-speaking countries. It acquired this status because at first the States had a fairly strict policy towards other languages - they were simply forced out. All official documentation was compiled only in English. And over time, this policy yielded results. Many states prohibited instruction in languages other than English. If then American government did not supplant other languages, then Spanish, Dutch, or any other could well become the official language of the United States. And now it’s unlikely that anyone would argue about the prevalence of English.
The article is devoted to the current problem of the functioning of the English language as a language of international communication in the context of globalization.
The 21st century is the century of globalization. Therefore, today there is a particularly acute need for a language common to all inhabitants of the planet, which would allow people from different countries to communicate with each other. Globalization processes open borders, make it possible to establish contacts anywhere in the world and communicate online "real time", turning our world into a “global village”.
The term “international language” is enshrined in linguistics; its interpretation is found in all linguistic dictionaries and encyclopedias. So, according to the definition of O.S. Akhmanova, “an international (universal, world, universal) language is an artificial auxiliary language offered as a means of international communication.”
In the Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics we find the following definition of an international language: “a language in widespread use as a foreign language or second language of international communication.(“A language widely used as a foreign or second language for international communication. English is the most widely used international language.”
The term “global language” was first introduced into linguistic use by the English scientist David Crystal. Believing that to get the tongue "global" status requires recognition of its role in most countries of the world, David Crystal identifies three ways to acquire this status, due to three various functions language. This is, firstly, a function of the main state language for residents of a large number of countries. Second, a language can acquire official status and become widespread in government, the legal system, the media, and the educational system. In this case, the potential international language could be like "second", giving primacy to the national language, and "first", and its study begins as early as possible. In this case, a foreign language may be the only official language or share this function with other languages; it can also be semi-official, being accepted in some areas of life. The third way of language globalization is associated with the educational policy of the country, in which, without having an official status, this language is a priority for study. The reasons for choosing a foreign language as a global language are varied. They may be related to the need for commercial, cultural or technological connections.
One of the main conditions necessary for any language to acquire global status is stable social status nations of speakers of this language, since language is inseparable from the society in which it exists. Crystal calls the main factors a stable economic, political and military situation in a country whose language can become global. It is quite natural that the English language meets all the requirements for an international language. Firstly, it is spoken in many countries around the world, including South Africa. Secondly, it has the status of an official language in Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Singapore, India and seventy other countries around the world and, finally, it is the main foreign language studied in one hundred countries around the world. Number of people who speak English and for whom it is not is native and is constantly growing, currently numbering approximately 1.5 billion people. Thus, we can say that English has already gone through all three stages of globalization that we mentioned earlier: it is the first language (in terms of the number of speakers as a non-native language), has official status and dominates among the languages studied. Countries "expanding" circle is China, the countries of the Caribbean, Central and South America, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan. Here English, having no official status, ranks first among those studied foreign languages. According to D. Crystal, the number of people speaking English in the world is more than one billion one hundred million, of whom only a quarter recognize it as their native language; Another six hundred million people speak English as a second language in professional field and for everyday communication. Today, English has the status of an official or semi-official language in 62 countries of the world and 97% of the world's population considers it a language of international communication.
English predominates in the media, business, economics, education, sports, and entertainment. More than 80% of the world's information is stored in English. It has become the undisputed language of science: 70-85% of all scientific papers are published first in English. Thus, the French Academy of Sciences now publishes its annual reports only in English. Today, English has replaced French in the world of diplomacy and has become the language of the majority. international organizations: NATO, UN, UNESCO, European Central Bank and others. English is the official language Olympic Games, World Council of Churches, competition "Miss Universe". International meetings are held mainly in English: conferences, symposiums, Internet conferences, signing of international agreements, treaties, etc., contacts are made and the necessary information is retrieved via the Internet.
Technical and scientific terms would add millions more lexical items. About 200,000 English words is in everyday circulation, while in German 184,000 words are used and only 100,000 words are used in French. The English language also has the ability to get the most out of a word by making it do double duty as a noun and a verb. The list of such words is almost endless: drink, fight, fire, sleep, run, look, fund, act, comfort, view and many others.
Another undeniable advantage of the English language is the comparative simplicity of grammatical structures, spelling and pronunciation. Pronouns in English are indeclinable. Let's say if you want to say you in German, you should choose from 7 words: du, dich, dir, Sie, Ihnen, ihr and euch. In English, such problems will not arise due to the unique form you. In other languages, politeness is expressed in more diverse ways. In addition, in English there is no need to remember the gender of nouns, which eliminates the problem of remembering articles depending on the gender of nouns, and sometimes the article is not needed at all. For example, the English “It’s time to go to school” in other European languages sounds like "It's the time to go to the school". And there are many such examples: between heaven and earth, time is money.
However, the globalization of the English language, like any other process, is ambiguous. On the one hand, there are benefits that people receive in the most different areas. The ability to communicate, regardless of differences in culture, place of residence, citizenship, is what humanity has been striving for since the construction of Tower of Babel, when, according to biblical tradition, people were punished by God for disagreement and since then began to speak different languages.
The ability to speak fluent English - provides a chance to obtain an MBA (Master's Degree in Management and Management), which gives a comprehensive vision of business, organizes knowledge and develops skills in this area. Most international companies require a certain degree of English proficiency from potential employees in order to obtain high-paying jobs and prestigious positions.
Despite the fact that English is inferior to Spanish and Chinese in terms of the number of native speakers, it is currently considered the most widespread and universal language of communication in the world. Its exceptional position was the result of a number of factors.
British colonial policy.
Since the 16th century, England has been actively expanding in different parts of the world. The result was the British Empire, which controlled vast territories in North America, Africa, India, Australia.
This state became the largest in area in the entire history of mankind. Naturally, the administrative language in the colonies was English, and it was spoken by representatives of the metropolis. In addition, other important persons were British - military officers, engineers, and employees of trading companies. For local residents, mastering this language has become a necessary condition for communicating with the authorities. In addition, English became the language of intertribal communication for the multilingual population of the colonies. It remained in this capacity even after the countries gained independence in the 20th century.
Trade expansion.
By the 17th century, England had become a leading maritime power, and thanks to this, English companies became leaders in international trade. As a result, London is becoming a leading financial center. Naturally, English is becoming the common language of world trade and finance.
US leadership.
People from the British Isles made up only part of the population of the North American colonies. There were quite a lot of French-, German- and Spanish-speaking residents here (not counting the indigenous Indian tribes). However, as a result of the centralization of the country, English became the only official language. In the 20th century, the United States became a real superpower, taking leading roles in politics, economics, science, technology, and culture. In all these areas, together with American influence The influence of the English language spread.
Features of the language.
In addition to the realities of historical development, there were also objective factors that contributed to (or, in any case, did not hinder) the spread of English. This language is considered easy to learn, it is concise and at the same time very rich lexically, and due to these features it is perfect for international communication.