Introduction
Over the past years, the English language has grown to become a de facto language of global communication. Fields of literature, humanities and science are published in the English. In fact, even international conferences are held in English.
Crystal David: English as a Global Language. Cambridge, Mass: Cambridge University Press
English language has very strong history. Crystal begins his book by questioning what it means for a language to be global and also the merits and demerits that come with it. This book has managed to trace the rise of English as a language to international recognition. The first chapter takes a survey of the use of English around the world and the extent to which the language is increasingly finding use. The language was in existence as early as the 5th century when German tribes from Denmark invaded Angles in Britain. This tribe spoke Englisc which has evolved to English. The second chapter looks at the ideas concerning the position of English on the globe and the foundations of its victory as put down by the powerful British Empire and the early civilization and subsequent industrial Revolution.
The third chapter looks at the cultural legacy that has strengthened the current supremacy of English; its wider use in diplomatic and international level communication. This is very evident in media particularly the music industry, internet and learning. The book also discusses the future of this language since it has made considerable impact on the world today.
The universality of English is a drawback to cultural empowerment. Kushner begins by asserting that English is on the verge of becoming the global language if not universal. English is finding use in many multilingual nations as the language of socialization. On the global level, the language has imposed itself as a major means of communication in business and scientific research. Kushner possess the question as to whether this is purely beneficial on humanity grounds or does it have other dangerous risks. Americanization is greatly feared and the spread of English seems to boost this perception.
Kushner states that embracing globalization and the idea of a global village is the main reason why English is spreading so fast. People rejoice when they are able to access new technology, travel all over the world and are able to communicate effectively. People can get information that enables them to achieve cosmopolitan dreams whereby humankind is one.
This article however claims that the English language as used at a global level limits cultural identity. Many people encourage cultural empowerment yet the imposition of universal language undermines this. Evidently, embracing the global village phenomenon does not guarantee an adequately sensitive and wide-ranging frame for thought in spite of the attractiveness o the idea.
English is symbolic of the west and good impression. This book begins by using an illustration that is very common for people to tend to speak to strangers in English. Noronha asserts that when speaking to friends or family members in English, they tend to pay more attention. Regardless of the opposition to use English in areas where the majority understand the local language, it commands respect than other languages. One is considered to be elite
English show confidence and has allowed wider career freedom as it appeals to many people. The amount of English spoken has greatly increased in areas of Asia especially India. Many people now use English to communicate at workplaces.
This book emphasizes the complaints about the rampant English use as just an unfounded effort to save other languages which consider themselves part of cultural empowerment more than they actually are.
English is a de facto language for science and research. Ammon estimated that 80% to 90% of scientific papers are written in the English language. This is an increase from 60 percent in the 1980s. There is a growing distinct consciousness in several states about English dominance in science, both in developed and developing nations. There is also some resistance in several countries in Europe like Germany and some Scandinavian nations. There are similarities between Asian and European nations in the way they implicate English and science. The Asian and European nation’s types of English are based on both developing varieties of English like bi- or multi-language. The result is that many people become bilingual speakers.
The English language has unquestionably benefited appreciably from this new era, progressively penetrating into different cultures in education and music and most importantly in science. There are several reports that show there is increased penetration of English in biomedical sciences evidently in Germany. English has penetrated in Germany enough that even the Medical Conference German National is held in English science.
English has become a language of publishing. This article addresses the benefits of English in education, especially at tertiary levels. Most instructors now use English even in non-native speakers-dominated areas. The Chinese have embraced this idea and many of them study English and attend American colleges. The spread of English in Science is so rapid that it’s estimated that about half of the world’s population will be using English by the year 2015 and the ratio is even much higher in the field of science.
There is also concern that the non-English speaking people in Europe and Asia could be discriminated against from scientific knowledge and cannot therefore competitively participate and enjoy the shared knowledge made available by science. Most of the people who find English more convenient for use in science support its use on the basis of its practicality and efficiency
Reference
Ammon, U. (2001). The Dominance of English as a Language of Science – Effects on Other Languages. New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
Crystal, D. (1997). English as a Global Language. Cambridge, Mass: Cambridge University Press
Kushner, E. (2003). English as Global Language: Problems, Dangers, Opportunities. The University of Toronto Diogenes, 50 (2): 18 – 24
Master, P. (1998). Positive and Negative Aspects of the Dominance of English. TESOL Quarterly, 32(4): 715 – 728
Noronha, S. (2005). Supremacy of the English Language. London: Routledge