English as a World Language

English as a World Language

English is spoken in many different countries.

"English is used as an official language in countries with a population of about 1.6 billion, roughly a third of the world total." (Bryson, 181)

English is not only spoken and used in several countries around the world, but I think that Bryson makes it clear that even if it wasn't spoken in a country, pretty much anyone, anywhere, is able to recognize the English language, either spoken or written.

Which brings us to Bryson's main point in this chapter: that English, is basically, whether official or not, the universal language of our world, even if those who use it don't always use it correctly, or completely understand it when seeing or hearing it.

Hence, the mother tongue.

English is not necessarily used or spoken in other countries because it is admired, or because it's so appealing. It's spoken and used in the other countries because it is necessary in order to function in the world, and sometimes even in their own country.

Obviously, although English is used frequently for many different things, it is not always used correctly. And therefore although many people may claim they speak English, do they actually know how to speak it? In Bryson's text he gives an extract from a brochure from Italy which made absolutely no sense.

But can we really blame those who have so much trouble with English? Just from taking this class we have learned so many Latin bases seen in different words, but some of them are so similar, and some of them could mean more than one thing. I see this confusion in my own household.

In Amsterdam, almost everyone speaks English very well, but their bookstores only have a small section for books written in English. In practically every country, although English is written all over their street signs and store signs, it is very rare to come across a television show or a movie in English. Although English is clearly used and depicted in other countries, their own languages are still preferred in many aspects.

Although some countries are looking to eliminate English, many countries also embrace it, and do admire the language.

English has definitely had great influence in other cultures. Because of the significance of the language in so many different countries, it has actually affected the arrangement of words in other languages or even created new words.

For example, a Ukrainian man goes to a barber to get a herkot, and in Poland we would go to an ice cream parlor to get ajskrym. Also, Swedes pluralize words by adding -s rather than by adding -ar, -or or -er as Swedish usually does.

I visited Taiwan this past summer, where some of my relatives live, and like Bryson says, English is seen everywhere.

I think everyone in America also knows that English has also played a great role in the music industry.

Honestly, as opinionated this chapter seems to be, and as biased as Bryson seems because he is someone who actually speaks English, what he says is, in my opinion very reliable. The English language really is seen and known everywhere in the world.

English IS a world language.

In fact, India, Malaysia and Nigeria have been trying to eliminate English as an official language in their countries for over 30 years. In India, English is spoken by a maximum of 5% of the population. However, due to 1,652 languages and dialects existing in the country, English is used as the neutral language, resulting in the Constitution of India to be written in English.

However, although English is used as an official language in so many different parts of the world,

photo credit Nasa / Goddard Space Flight Center / Reto Stöckli