Is English as a global language something to be celebrated

Is English as a global language something to be celebrated?

091400111 刘蔚葶

With the process of globalization, English is becoming a highly developed global language as it is spreading rapidly through the world and is widely used by people all over the world. Confronted with the question whether English as a global language is something to be celebrated, there is no consensus of opinion among people.

As is known to us all, language is the carrier of culture and also the most important means of embodiment of a culture. The wide spread of English as an international language contributes to the wide spread of English culture and it promotes the communication between different cultures as well. On the score of this phenomenon, people from developing countries assimilate the positive aspects of English culture, which promotes the progress of a nation. However, as every coin has two sides, English as a global language is a double-edged sword.

First and foremost, English as a global language is endangering linguistic diversity and causing cultural disaster. According to the research carried out by the UNESCO, there are more than 6000 kinds of languages in the world, 80 percent of which will become dead languages. Worse still, every two weeks there is one language disappearing. There is no doubt that it’s English that accelerates this process. Besides, as what has been mentioned before, language is the carrier of culture, that is to say, the variety of culture is also in a grim situation with the extinction of some languages each year. Consequently, English has led to linguistic and culture invasion, which will drive many small languages to the edge of extinction or even die out.

Secondly, English as a global language can divide the society into many classes, widening the gap between the rich and the poor. In many countries such as India and Philippines, English is only mastered by elite class and only the minority has an access to getting good jobs and a promotion. Take China as an example, a great number of companies regard a good grasp of English as a prerequisite in interviews. If there are two people who own almost the same qualification seeking for the same job, under this circumstance, the one who masters English better will get more chance.

Last but not the least, English as an international language is also bad for itself. Native English speakers are becoming ever more complacent and are unwilling to learn other foreign languages or get to know other cultures. They cut down on foreign language learning programmes, under the illusion that since English has become the leading international language, there’s no point in learning other foreign languages.

All in all, English as a global language casts many countries especially developing countries into a dilemma. On the one hand, they want to strengthen the communication and cooperation with the world and on the other hand they also make every effort to protect the characteristics of their own culture. Faced with all these contradictions, we should be fully prepared for the adverse effects brought by the English globalization while we enjoy its benefits.