The Spread of the English Language Essay Example

English is the fastest growing language in the world, being the modern-day lingua franca and the main form of communication both in business, science and as of recently, how people communicate in daily activities. It has established its place as a language with potential for standardisation, which can be seen from the Industrial Revolution, where words were created with the sole purpose of expanding vocabulary for a more permanent use. However, globalisation with a dominant language such as English does mean that languages and consequently cultures of minorities are left questioning their future. Although English allows for greater connection between cultures and increased opportunities for all, it does so in a way that shadows other cultures, which questions whether the uniqueness of the individual is more important than the efficiency of the whole and if so, whether it is comparable to the improvements that society has seen with the introduction of the English Language.

Language is defined as the principal method of human communication, which consists of words used in a structured and conventional way and represented through speech, writing or gesture. As such, it is necessary for a language to see common use within a group of people. As a society, the introduction of a common language would be beneficial for everyone, allowing for a standard which everyone can follow and communicate with, however this directly threatens the individual and what they may stand for. Languages are formed to allow for communication between a community, and this involves certain nuances that are specific to each community and individual, which then co-exist and develop alongside the traditions and customs that make up a culture, as stated by the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Given that language is an integral part of how an individual’s identity is shaped, it is important to consider that the efficiency of society may not justify losing a fundamental part of one’s identity. A fine balance must be achieved, and this balance directly determines the impact of the globalisation of English, as the individual determines the characteristics of communities, which in turn affects the interdependence of communities in the long term and the progress of humanity.

The spread of English has been beneficial in terms of providing opportunities and information to others as it is becoming an increasingly common language, especially within the younger generations. 55.5% of all content on websites are in English, with the remaining 44.5% consisting of more than 27 languages. This diversity means that there is little chance for a common ground for communication, which is essential between people. For example, information regarding scientific discoveries is universal, and thus, it is important to ensure that all scientists can communicate their findings in a way that is understandable to everyone. Likewise, businesses regularly conduct deals with other businesses, who may speak different languages, and it is important that they are able to communicate their proposals and conduct business in a way that is understood by everyone as “Companies that fail to devise a language strategy are essentially limiting their growth opportunities to the markets where their language is spoken, clearly putting themselves at a disadvantage to competitors that have adopted English-only policies” as said by Tsedal Neeley from the Harvard Business Review. The only way to achieve this is to establish a lingua franca from a language that is relatively common, and although it does mean other languages must retreat to use within smaller groups, it also allows for much more to be communicated on a global scale, which means more people have access to the same information, and thus opportunities overall.

Although the collaboration of people justifies the spreading of English around the world, the disadvantages arise when the impact on individuals are considered. Through the words of Gandhi, “To give millions a knowledge of English is to enslave them.” Gandhi even acknowledges that the learning of English amongst Indians has only caused more manipulation within their own community, and from a broader perspective, the expression of their emotions has been enslaved within a language they can barely speak, all for the sake of progress that only clouded the struggles within the country. This cultural manipulation is something that the world is currently experiencing, with 42.87% of the world’s languages categorised as being vulnerable to some degree as reported by UNESCO, and this is only increasing. This limits the extent to which people can identify with aspects of their culture, as language is primarily how culture is constructed and built. In a time when personal identity is very important, and language is used as a tool to express oneself more than actions at times, it is especially important that people are given a way to express themselves as naturally as possible. Thus, using a foreign language will inhibit this natural expression and this limiting is a natural disadvantage of language globalisation, which must be considered when evaluating the effect of spreading English worldwide.

The spread of English overall has had a positive impact, through its ability to allow people of different backgrounds and cultures to communicate information and collaborate, however it does so at the cost of limiting peoples’ ability to naturally express emotion, which may hurt more in the future then is currently evident. Overall, the globalisation of English is positive when the progress of society is concerned, however more emphasis should be put on the individuals that make up these groups, and just how a fundamental part of them is impacted, so that the balance is achieved, and we can develop as a civilisation, with the uniqueness of the individual preserved for the future.