The text is responding to a situation whereby English language is facing challenges in such a way that it is not clear whether it is a global language. There are instances in the text when the author is agreeing that English language has massively evolved into a major global language (Mydans, 2007).
However, the author does not take a firm position on whether English language is indeed global. This paper offers a rhetorical analysis essay on why English should be regarded as global language.
It is also vital to explore how the writer has managed to establish his credibility in the text. The author has established his credibility by referencing other pieces of literary works from other authors.
He has not taken all the credits for himself in the various arguments presented in the paper. In addition, there are myriads of sources that the author has cited in the text in order to support his arguments. Use of direct quotes is also instrumental in the text because it adds value and additional credibility.
It is also evident that the writer has an attitude towards the subject matter since the audience can easily identify with both the mood of the writer and the text itself. The writer’s attitude towards the subject is quite skeptic. As already mentioned in the paper, the writer has failed to take a particular standing point regarding the issue of English being a global language.
It is interesting to mention that the piece of writing contains various sub-themes from other authors even though he tends to neither support nor refute the notion that English is a global language (Mydans, 2007). The author is also quite frank in his description of English as the ‘king of languages’. He attains this by citing fascinating statements from other literary sources.
The text is targeting a particular audience or readers. The audience can be grouped into primary and secondary. The primary audience of the text is basically learners of English language both in grammar and in literature. Since this language is being discussed as a global entity, students of English language are definitely the primary audience who are supposed to be furnished with such information.
In addition, teachers of English should also be regarded as the primary audience that are being targeted by the text bearing in mind that they are supposed to learn the language and be acquainted with it even as they teach the various versions.
The secondary audiences are individuals who have great passion for English language. These are people with inner desire to learn more about English as a language especially in terms of its origin, growth as well as current and future developments.
The author has built several arguments in the paper that are supposed to persuade the reader to agree with the given piece of writing. The major argument in the text revolves around whether English should be treated as global language. The author has indeed attempted to circumnavigate the argument by citing and quoting various pieces of works that have been written by other reputable authors.
At the initial point, the author begins the text with an introduction and a thesis statement that highlights what is to be discussed in the paper. After the introduction, the author builds the argument by presenting his individual understanding of the subject matter before eventually going deep into the issues to be discussed. Nonetheless, there is no concluding point in the text where the author agrees to own or wind up the argument (Mydans, 2007).
There are also other arguments and perspectives that the author has presented in the text. Some of the arguments include historical development of English, globalization, the influence of technology in the development of English language and the cross cultural influence of English in the world of linguistics. He has also employed pathos, logos and ethos in the text as described in the remaining section of the paper.
English is one of the fastest growing languages across the world today. It has largely been boosted by the current trends in technology and globalization. The progressing dominance of this language has been discussed with cross reference to a published article by Seth Mydans.
Although the author argues that English language may never become a global language, there are clear indications that it is indeed growing at a very fast rate that cannot be reversed at all. The author has also employed excellent use of pathos, ethos and logos in the piece of writing.
He has offered a detailed description on English language as a whole. However, the author has failed to convince the audience whether English language will ever become a global language. This is one of the glaring weaknesses in the article when rhetorical analysis is conducted.
The author has also attempted to explain why English language has transited itself into the “king of languages”. He has achieved the latter by carrying out an interview with quite a number of experts in linguistics. Perhaps, this is one of the ways that the author uses to boost the credibility of his analysis (Mydans, 2007).
The audiences that read newspapers such as the Tribune or New York Times are drawn from various social and economic backgrounds. Paragraphs are brief and simple to comprehend. In the case of Mydans, the author has made use of high degree of allusions, metaphors and diction. These techniques have been closely intertwined with history. In spite of the complexities in this piece of writing, the audience can still find it easy to read and understand.
The author has used the word linguist in reference to one of the persons he interviewed when he was gathering information from the field. In order to expound the opinion of the linguist in regards to English as a global language, the author has made use of the word unequivocal. The text also contains the term vernacular.
The latter word has been employed by the author in order to offer a description of various versions of English language adopted in different destinations across the globe.
Some of the regions noted in the text include Papua New Guinea, Caribbean, Nigeria and Singapore. The phrase ‘kind of languages’ has been used by the author at the introductory section of the text so as to offer a glimpse preview of the arguments presented in the essay (Mydans, 2007).
In conclusion, there is need for a global language since global communication is rapidly expanding (Crystal, 2003). A global language should be in a position to be understood and recognized by a large number of people. English language has been established in various parts across the globe. It is found in various forms or versions depending on the location.
References
Crystal, D. (2003). English as a global language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Mydans, S. (2007). Across cultures, English is the word. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/world/asia/09iht-englede.1.5198685.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0&mtrref=undefined&gwh=66C2E4BE92CCCD2EB95C45787C91D565&gwt=pay