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The Role of English Language in International Communication
The English language at present can be considered as a global language because of its widespread usage and influence over several regions of the world. Nowadays, the English language has been considered as a global lingua franca for peoples of the world with different native languages to communicate with one another using one language. Because of the rapid growth of globalization, especially with the advent of the Internet as a large scale means of telecommunications, the demand for a global lingua franca has never been this big; the English language plays a very important role in this regard. It is being used in international organizations, businesses, academics, research and development, education, politics and entertainment in such a way to converge different peoples of different cultures from different parts of the world.
Although this trend is not apparent worldwide in the sense of increasing number of native speakers, this trend is true for increasing number of English as second language (ESL) or English as foreign language (EFL) learners. International corporations tend to infuse proficiency in the English language, both spoken and written, in their corporate systems. In particular, technology companies on a global scale shifted towards using the English language not only in their products but using English as a corporate language as well. It turned out that to be able to compete on the global market, a company should be equipped proficiently with the English language. In effect, education systems also shifted in teaching English as a second language and English as a foreign language. This is again in relation with globalization in which students would more likely have to use the English language in order to be relevant not only internationally but also regionally. Furthermore, in the fields of science and engineering, the use of the English language is essential in collaborative research, international research conferences, and international standards. In politics, a significant number of countries use English as the language of the government and their judicial systems. This is again in line with international trade relations and cooperation. Lastly, the domination and influence of Hollywood paved the way for the use of English language as the primary language of entertainment.
The conversion of the English language as an international lingua franca rooted from necessity rather than a unified international effort. As capitalists target international markets for expansion, the need arises for a common language among people of different languages so as to establish effective communication. Historically , the British Empire, who uses the English language, is one of the last surviving colonial empires of the world. Because of this, it has left several countries around the world the influence of having English as a second language. In the early stages of globalization, it just so happened that the English language was usually the common language known by most players in the international market. Because of this, English steadily grew as a global language in terms of scope and influence.
The importance of English in today’s global community is undeniable. However, it does not necessarily mean that having English as a global language does not have any negative effects. The domination of English as a global language could eventually result in the dying out of several native languages of the world . In a given country with English as a second language, the intrusion of the English language into its education, mass media, and culture could possibly hinder the growth of the native languages. There is a trend in which families of the elite tend to use English as the first language learned by their children. When English becomes institutionalized as the replacement of the native languages, these native languages would surely be extinct. With the absence of these languages and the dominance of a single global language, cultural identity and diversity will diminish.
In the issue of peace, one of the main goals of a global language is to establish and maintain global peace. Having a global language means that there is a common venue for communication and understanding for different peoples of different countries. Although ideally a global language should lead to peace, what’s happening in the world is far from ideal. It has been observed that several wars in history were initiated in places wherein there is a single language prevailing . Some of these wars include the Spanish Civil War, the British Civil War, the French Revolution, and the American Civil War. Moreover, there are countries with several languages that are considered very peaceful. Some of these countries include Switzerland, Canada, and Singapore. Therefore, there is no direct certainty on the assumption that if there is a global language, there is peace.
However, the role of a global language in establishing peace cannot be dismissed entirely. If the presence of a global language may not have prevented wars in the past, it has/had played a crucial role in resolving conflicts and stopping wars . Language has always been a powerful tool in communication, and it certainly has been used in times of war. Since wars usually began from misunderstandings, the use of the English language as a common medium could initiate a proper forum among conflicting parties with the end-goal of achieving agreement. However, it should be noted that using the English language should not convey the effect of supremacy but rather of camaraderie among nations. Needless to say, the feeling of supremacy or inequality is one of the usual causes of violence and war.
Moreover, the use of language as an instrument for peace is not limited in the context of war. Peace education is necessary to develop a culture of non-violence and equality of rights among men. Moreover, gender-related violence can also be prevented by properly educating children at an early age with peaceful and non-discriminatory language .
Different countries may have different cultures, but having a global language such as English, there can be a unified global culture in which the inclusion of peace education may be established. In the end, there should not be a need to use a single language for all people to achieve peace, but there should be a global language (such as English) in which different peoples may understand each other in order to avoid violence and maintain peace.
Through all these discussions, the importance of an international lingua franca should inevitably be added. The global community might have unconsciously established the English language as an international lingua franca. International business deals are not possible without using English as the medium of communication. Tourism is ever-growing in different parts of the world, and the main means of communication is English. It is not possible to sustain many international online communities without the use of English. The English language has bridged numerous cultural, racial, and economic boundaries as it is used as an international lingua franca.
Having the English language as a lingua franca has proven its several benefits. However, it still requires a long way to prove that it is the best language choice as the international lingua franca. By virtue of number of native speakers, Chinese is the most-used language in the whole world. Spanish is also a native language for several countries in South America, and including Spain in Europe. There are several other candidates for this position of becoming the one international lingua franca.
I believe that the Chinese language is the best choice to be the international lingua franca. Firstly, the sheer number of Chinese people around the globe, and their influence in different cultures wherever they are, can be an effective driving force in establishing Chinese as a lingua franca. Secondly, the Chinese language is very capable of adaptation in different cultures. The Chinese language is very effective academically in the fields of mathematics, science, and engineering. Moreover, the incorporation of the Chinese language in the Internet will prove to be an inevitable force of change in the future.
In conclusion, the English language has become an essential component of the modern world because of it being a global language and an international lingua franca. It affects different peoples and different cultures because of the continuous growth of globalization. It becomes inevitable to learn the international lingua franca in order to stay relevant in any aspect of living.
References
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Friedrich, P 2007, Language, Negotiation and Peace: The Use of English in Conflict Resolution, New York.
Mackey, P, 'The future Englishes of the world: one lingua franca or many?', English Australia, vol 23, no. 2, pp. 249-255.
Mastin , L 2011, English Today, viewed 16 January 2016, <http://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/history_today.html>.
Mastin, L 2011, Language Issues-English as a Global Language, viewed 16 January 2016, <http://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/issues_global.html>.
The Great English Divide 2001, viewed 16 January 2016, <http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2001-08-12/the-great-english-divide>.
