The world’s top tongue

The English language is now the first language of about 350 million people, the native language of 12 nations and the official or semi-official language of 33 more nations. That means one of every seven people in the world speaks English.

The English language has become the “new Latin”, the lingua franca, of the century. In terms of scientific expertise and technological development, one must know English to be a part of the 21st century. In this context, it is not difficult to see why in Italy, for example, English is necessary for many technical jobs. In China, English is the chief foreign language learned at school.

At present, no other language on earth is better suited to play the role of a world language. There are many reasons for its pop­ularity. First, English is easier to learn than any other language. Second, it easily borrows local words and phrases from the very countries into which it expands.

English is so widespread that it has become the standard language for all kinds of international communication. At present, 75% of the world’s mail is in English, 60% of the world’s tele­phone calls are made in English, 60% of the world’s radio stations broadcast in English and more than half of the world’s periodicals are published in English.

English is also the international language of businesspeople, pilots and air traffic controllers, diplomats and politicians, sports-people, scientists, doctors and students. Beyond any doubt, English is now the world’s top tongue.

Vocabulary

expertise – специальные знания

semi-official – полуофициальный

to broadcast – вещать (по радио, ТВ)

beyond any doubt – вне всякого сомнения

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

1. How many people in the world speak English?

2. What are the reasons of its popularity?

3. What different roles does English play now in the world?

2. The channel tunnel

Throughout history, people have dreamt about a link between England and France. Even Napoleon had a plan to dig a tunnel and conquer England. One of the first people who tried to dig a tunnel under the Channel was a French mining engineer called Albert Mathieu. His tunnel failed.

In 1881, Colonel Beaumont and Captain English from Britain also tried to dig a tunnel. Their tunnel went six kilometers out into the Channel. Queen Victoria stopped them and said it was dangerous to have a link with France. It was a very good tunnel, though, and it still exists today.

The new tunnel (ready in 1993) is, in fact, three tunnels – two for trains and a “service tunnel” for ventilation and for men who maintain the tunnels. The tunnels are fifty kilometers long, forty meters under water. Forty kilometers of tunnel are under the sea itself. They are the longest undersea tunnels in the world.

Trains travel through the tunnels at 160 km/h. People in cars drive their cars onto special “shuttle” trains and these trains take them through the tunnel. Each train takes 1.500 people and there are trains every ten minutes.

A special radio station is installed there, because it is impossible to receive normal radio signals when you are under the sea. The station broadcasts news to keep people up-to-date with the 'world outside' while they are in the tunnel.