English as a common ground is so that Americans can understand what is being spoken to each other. Americans should be able to communicate and read any material out in this country without wondering what is being said. Foreigners or non-English speaking citizens are increasingly becoming more segregated, creating poverty- stricken areas. The creation of these areas is due to the language barrier (US-English, 2012). Americans who speak English can find it insulting when other begins to speak to them in another language. Majority of the states have English as their official language. So when a foreigner begins to speak another language or attempt to communicate in English, it could be found offensive because if the same person were to go to their country, it would offensive if you did not speak their language. When living or visiting the United States, it would be safe to assume that everyone spoke English if it were the official language. No one would be insulted, nor would an individual find it hard to communicate with another. Making English the official language of the United States means that the government will be conducting everything solely in English. This includes all public documents, records, legislation and regulations, as well as hearings, official ceremonies and public meetings (US-English, 2012). “This means that everything will be conducted in the English language and that no one will have the right to demand government services in any other language” (ProEnglish, 1994). The government cost of multilingualism is in the hundreds of million dollars. Companies have to spend about 15 to 20 percent of production cost to use in translation services (CalRecycle, 1995). For example, Hospitals have to pay for translators to those who do not speak English. Translators in California are paid $45 to $50 an hour! While…
“Effective adaptation of learning and teaching strategies and careful consideration of learning needs are essential to maximise EAL learners’ inclusion in classroom activities”. This report will examine this statement in relation to Design & Technology classrooms in the secondary school.…
English had started to be known as a lingua franca around the period of World War II. After reading the English Effect report by the British council written by Howson (2013) it can be estimated that approximately 1.75 billion people use English worldwide, in other words, approximately one in four people speak English at a “useful level”. The main people who are learning and speaking English are “the economically active, the thought leaders, the business decision-makers, the young, the movers and shakers present and future” (Howson, 2013). There are more non-native speakers of English than there are native speakers therefore it can be said that English…
The rise of English as an international language has always been a debatable issue. Its critics condemn the global dominance of English as a form of linguistic imperialism, in which hegemonic powers like Great Britain and the United States extend their influence and interests by promoting the teaching and learning of English (Phillipson, 1992). In contrast, others have observed that the ascension of English as an international language has been supported by individuals in various contexts who appropriate the language as a means to pursue their localized interests and agenda (Canagarajah, 2007). Crystal (1997) explains that there are very many people globally that use English in comparison to other languages which is historical.…
Nowadays, all people say that English is the most essential and easiest language that people could use to communicate in different countries. As I read thoroughly the two articles, which are called “ English seen as a Co-star among Global Language” and “Can English be Dethroned”, I’ve found out that people more commonly accept using English as a second language in the 21st century. We all understand the fact that English has been growing in popularity largely as economic globalization is getting bigger. The benefits of English as a common language for communication and interaction far outweigh any possible disadvantages that it might have. English is a global language not because the world shows respect to it by accepting it as a global language because it has the characteristics of a global language.…
In why a Global Language, author David Crystal explains what a global language is, how English has become the global language of today, and also why it is important for the world to have a global language.…
English was first spoken in Medieval England, what we now know as England, by the Angles and the Saxons. At the end of the 16th century there was about 5-7 million people who talked English in England. English is now the language that is most widely used in the whole wide world. Except the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, there are a lot of Caribbean nations who use English as a first language too. I will show how and where English are used today. I will also show how this happened by writing a little around the English language’s history. English is spoken by countries as the United States, Nigeria, Australia, India and Canada caused by the British Empire, and I will show how this affected India.…
In the United States, there are 303 languages other than English that are spoken at home, these categories include; Native American languages, African languages, Chinese, other Asian languages, Pacific Island languages, and Indic languages. According to the US Census, in 2007 the number of people five and older who spoke a language other than English at home doubled in the last three decades.…
Probably between two and three billion people speak English. These may be divided into Kachru’s three circles: inner, outer, expanding (Kachru, 1992). But today the majority of English speakers are located in the outer or expanding circles, using English as a lingua franca (ELF). It is used for: academic purposes; political negotiation; tourism; entertainment; business and finance; information; interpersonal relationships ……
Knowing common language is essential for communicating effectively with others. A group of people living in one place or community often speak in one language to ensure that these individuals are able to understand each other. Some countries have become distinct from other countries due to the unique language that is commonly used by its inhabitants. Some nations’ states have declared a national language in their constitution and there are others that did not, especially those countries that have inhabitants who speak different languages. The United States of America is one of the countries that did not declare an official language that is used by its citizens in communicating, but a majority of its states have declared English as their official language. Our founding fathers chose to write the Declaration of Independence in the English language and use that as their mode of communication. The United States is a multi-lingual and multi-racial country, but most of its inhabitants use American English to communicate with each other. Official government documents and the language of instruction in most schools is English, thus, it is most a convenient if government and all of its citizens speak one language rather than being content knowing only the language that they use at home. A move has been made to declare English as the official language of the United States. The said motion is opposed by many people on the basis of its discriminatory nature considering that most inhabitants are multi-lingual. Those who are opposing it failed to realize the benefit that this move will have on some citizens who do not have a perfect command of the English language. The said move will also benefit those immigrants who came from non-English speaking countries and are not fluent in English when they arrive in the country to start a new life. Declaring the English language as the official language of the United States of America will promote solidarity and cohesiveness to all of…
‘Our appearance, the way we dress, etc., reflects who we are. It is therefore important to be consistent in the style we adopt throughout our lives.’…
Those who have studied the psycholinguistic development of a child are very clear about their findings. They say that language and cognitive development are intimately related. According to them, a child learns best in his mother tongue because he is not doubly burdened with the task of acquiring literacy skills simultaneously with learning another language not his own. That is why very often the student taught in a non-mother tongue learns to read syllable by syllable with very little comprehension.…
English as a medium of instruction – a growing global phenomenon: phase 1 Interim report April 2014 Author: Julie Dearden, Senior Research and Development Fellow, English as Medium of Instruction (EMI), Department of Education, University of Oxford www.britishcouncil.org/education/ihe Going Global 2014 1 Introduction There is a fast-moving worldwide shift from English being taught as a foreign language (EFL) to English being the medium of instruction (EMI) for academic subjects such as science, mathematics, geography and medicine. EMI is increasingly being used in universities, secondary schools and even primary schools. This phenomenon has very important implications for the education of young people and policy decisions in non-anglophone countries.…
When a person travels to another part of the world either for the sake of business or even as a tourist, the languages may differ. In these conditions, English is the language that helps people to deal with the situation. It is like a universal language: English is the language which connects people regardless of race, religion, age or sex.…
As we know that we are living in the world of globalization. English language is common language and is spoken in many countries. It is considered as universal language. Most of the universities worldwide include English as one of their major subject.…