English is frequently referred to as a lingua franca or the universal language. There are English speakers in most nations in the world, with more than 350 million people using it as their first language and more than 430 million using it as a second. But why is English so well-liked? And why has it spread around the world?
Globally, an estimated 1.8 billion people can communicate in some capacity in English. Just a few centuries ago, things were radically different when English speakers were largely restricted to the British Isles. There were fewer than 6 million English speakers back then. How did a language spoken by a minority become the world’s common language?
English – A global language
English is referred to as the “world language of business,” As global trade expands every year and brings new nations into contact, this claim is becoming more accurate. English is the international language of business, trade, science, medicine, and many other important fields. Even in diplomacy, where the French historically had influence, English now predominates in the majority of the world’s areas.
Due to its extensive vocabulary and infamously irregular grammar, English is really a somewhat challenging language to learn. There are some letters, words just like positive U words that can become the ladder, the vowels etc. Also, to make matters worse, the language is progressively becoming more difficult due to the high number of speakers and their different civilizations.
Additionally, learning English helps one succeed academically. Of course, speaking English will give you the chance to study with the best academics if the best program in your subject is located in a nation that speaks it. Speaking English proficiently will help you receive the greatest training and certifications since many of the best MBA programs are taught in it.
Many international corporations demand that potential employees have some level of English proficiency; therefore, more and more people are learning the language in order to secure jobs with top organizations.
English is also important if you want to pursue a career in research or medicine. Since a large portion of technical nonsense is derived from English words, you can learn about the most recent advancements and discoveries worldwide by reading journals and research papers written by scientists from China or Norway. Additionally, you’ll be able to network and establish crucial connections at conferences and seminars if you speak English well enough for casual conversation.
What makes English a global language? – Different Eras
Britain’s empire:
Politics and power are to blame for English’s emergence as a world tongue. Almost a fourth of the world was formerly covered by the British Empire, which made English an important language in many territories. Although English may not have been widely spoken in Asia and Africa, it was the language of commerce. It was the elite’s language and provided access to learning and career progress.
The British Empire was the primary and most evident reason that English became universal in the first place. Prior to occupying over a quarter of the globe (!), Britons were the only ones who spoke English, and the language was limited to the British Isles. However, the language naturally expanded after they began trading with regions like Asia and Africa, colonizing and populating all over the world.
The US after the war.
After the first two world wars, the world was unstable and changing. Businesses in America were thriving and began conducting international trade, just like Great Britain had done in the previous century. As a result, English became more widely used in international trade. However, American culture was also being heavily exported through music and movies at the same time.
Era of technology
The internet was developed in the USA at the same time as it rose to prominence as a global economic giant. This resulted in creating an entire vocabulary for English-invented technology like computers. The hardware for all of our smart technology uses English words that have become widely used worldwide because there was no other option available when the technology spread like wildfire to the far reaches of the planet.
English also predominates in science for a similar reason: traditionally, universities published significant research in English, and now, any meaningful publication by a scientist must be done in English.
