The place of English in the 21st century
It is difficult to predict exactly the possible place of English in the 21st century, as many factors are to be considered. Will globalization of English result in the destruction of the world linguistic and cultural diversity? On the one hand, the widespread of English as a language of international communication will continue to exert pressure toward global uniformity. This could result in declining standards, language changes, and the loss of geolinguistic diversity. There are some fears that as globalization of markets continues, there is going to be a convergence of ideas, cultures and values.
On the other hand, because English is the vehicle for international communication and because it forms the basis for constructing cultural identities, many local varieties could instead develop. This trend may lead to fragmentation of the language and threaten the role of English as a lingua franca. However, there have always been major differences among varieties of English.
There is no reason to believe that any other language may appear within the next 50 years to replace English. However, it is possible that English will not keep its monopoly in the 21 century. Rather, a small number of languages may form an oligopoly (equal dominance), each with a special area of influence. For example, Spanish is rising because of expanding trade and the increase of the Latino population in the United States. This could create a bilingual English-Spanish region.
Another possibility is a language shift, in which individuals change their linguistic preferances. These shifts are slow and difficult to predict. But within the next 50 years, substantial language shifts could occur as economic development affect more countries. Because of these possible shifts, more languages may disappear, and the languages remaining may rapidly get more native speakers. This includes English.
Thus, the fear that English will replace other languages, has no solid grounds....Instead, it may supplement or co-exist with languages by allowing strangers to communicate across linguistic barriers. Following Melvia A.Hasman (For.2000), we conclude that English «may become one tool that opens windows to the world, unlocks the doors to opportunities, and expands our minds to new ideas».
English and creation of global consumerist culture
The influence of English on other languages is often indirect. English language media texts bring with them images of lifestyle, expected social relations and ways of rep[resenting the world. Many television formats, computer games have been licensed from the USA, and though their local language versions are produced, thery swtill rerproduce social values and forms of public behavior. Similarly, the dubbing of English films into a local language does not destroy their capacity for cultural imperialism. The plot, characters and visual imaginary remain the same. It is, however, important not to overemphasize the cultural effect of the English language.
Questions to be discussed:
1. The reasons for growing world supremacy of English
2. The world need for a Lingua franka
3. Hierarchy of global languages.
4. Purposes for global use of English
5. The effect of modern technologies
6. English dialects
7. The place of English in the 21st century
8. English and creation of global consumerist culture
Key words and phrases
witness
competence.
world supremacy of English
linguistic and extralinguistic reasons,
the colonial expansion
flexibility
a language of economic opportunity,
world technological developments
economic globalization
improved communications.
negative effect:
destruction linguistic and cultural diversity. Besides
inequality both between the west¬ and the rest
The world need for a Lingua franka
A shared world language,
the European Renaissance.
he international auxiliary language movement
recognize a need for international lingua franka
artificial languages
Basic English (1920s/30s
ambiguity in this project:
a means of promoting the position of natural English
the USA had materialized as a world economic force,
rivals,
in no position to resist its rise.
at the apex of the hierarchy
the world's retrieval systems is stored in English.
Purposes for global use of English
emerge
entertainment genres
a great motivational factor for its study
human endeavor
to be subjected to tests of English competence
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
screening mechanisms
to allocate scholarships and visas.
Refugees and immigrants
fluency in English.
The effect of modern technologies
information processing given way to
encourages more informal conversational language
tolerance for diversity and individual style
resulte in Internet English,
English dialects
to guard purity and standard pronunciation
diversity a unity of grammar and one set of core vocabulary.
injected the elements of its culture
divesting itself of its political and cultural
The place of English in the 21st century
result in the destruction
world linguistic and cultural diversity?
to exert pressure toward global uniformity.
convergence of ideas, cultures and values.
to keep monopoly
oligopoly (equal dominance)
a language shift
linguistic allegiances.
to predict
to replace
supplement or co-exist tool that opens windows to the world,
unlocks the doors to opportunities,
expands our minds to new ideas