Is English a global language? Will English become the only language? Well, English is undeniably becoming the global language of the future with facts and stats to prove it. If English became a universal language, the world will change in a range of different ways, whether that be communication, trade, or culture. People have different theories on what effect English as a Universal Language will have on the world, and its competing languages.
The English language has seen an increase in popularity, with more and more people choosing to study English as a second language. If English became a global language, then opportunities could open up, however there could also be a significant effect on culture. Having English as a universal language has the potential to make the world more peaceful as well as help to advance communication throughout the world, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any disadvantages to English as a global language either.
Throughout this article, we’ll be going into detail about how English has grown in popularity around the world and, arguments for why we think English is the universal language of the future, as well as what the future of English as a global language could look like.
How did English become such a widely spread language?
Are we really at a point where we can ask will English be the universal language of the future? How have we got to the point where English is one of the most dominant languages around? Well, English has been around for years, just take a look at our Evolution of English blog post. Communication and language have been a very important part of building the foundation for the development of society, and the English language is no exception. The English language has helped to shape the world as we know it.
English has been rapidly growing, with many around the globe speaking English as either their native or second language. The history of the English Language dates back to as early as the 5th century. These days, there are an estimated 1.5 billion people who speak English, demonstrating the potential of English as a global language.
The English language was first brought to Britain when the Anglo-Saxons first settled here. Since then, the English Language’s development has been largely down to a number of reasons, including the rise of the British Empire and The United States, Advancements in Science & Technology, as well as Entertainment such as Film and Music.
English is the dominant or official language of numerous different countries, and its current global reach is evident. Since the English Language’s origin, the language has evolved to a point in which we have to ask whether English is a global language of the future.
Take a look at our blog post, Why English Is So Popular, to discover more about how English has gained its popularity.
The English Language’s rich culture is undeniable. It is even said that Shakespeare alone invented 2000 words throughout his time showing people how rich, vibrant, and limitless the expression of the English language was.
The more people travel and learn the English Language, the more it will help to position English as a global language of the future. We could eventually find ourselves at our point where we have to ask “How English Became a global language” rather than “Will English be the world language of the future”.
Why do people think English is the language of the future?
English is looking to be one of the universal languages of the future. Many people know that English speaking countries have some of the best economic and technological developments the world can offer. It’s also usually a case that English-speaking countries often offer higher paying jobs, which means people in these countries usually have a better standard of living, in comparison to the rest of the world. This is part of the reason why people believe English will be the Universal Language of the future.
As the world develops in terms of educational standards, more and more people are choosing to study English as a second language. In this day and age, the opportunities that are available to you if you can read, speak, and write in English are much more desirable than other languages. The potential for jobs, to expand on your knowledge, and to generally speak with more of the world’s population will all improve when capable of communicating in English.
English is also gaining popularity thanks to advancements in technology and computing. English dominates the technology industry, with the majority of software’s, operating systems, websites and programmes all written in languages based off of English. With technology playing more and more of an important role in our lives, English will become more and more important.
English has so many diverse people learning it around the globe, making it almost a “must-know” language these days. With the influence the English language already has across the world, its easy to see English becoming a universal language of the future.
Are you looking to improve your English Language Techniques in order to take full advantage of English as a global language? Checkout our How to develop your English Fluency blog post for more…
Are there any other languages that English is competing with?
As the world has developed throughout the years, so have many different languages from across the globe. Although today it is looking as though English will be the universal language of the future, there are many other languages that are in the race to catch up and become the dominant dialect of the globe.
Mandarin is the number one leader for the most native spoken language in the world, and could be a good Universal Language example. There are 1.2 billion people who speak it as their native language which is a staggering 16% of the world population. Whereas English only has 355 million native speakers. Just remember that we are talking about native speakers here, this doesn’t include people who use English as an additional language. So why do people think that English will be the universal language of the future when so many people speak Chinese? The main reason is economics and opportunities! Many of the richest people and companies are in English speaking countries.
Another language that is competing with English as a global language is Spanish. The difference with Spanish isn’t the volume of speakers, but how widespread the native speakers are. Spanish speaking countries are all over the world and have huge influence across the globe. Unlike English, which has 18 native speaking countries. There are 21 native Spanish speaking countries which dominates all other languages.
Few countries are planning to change their official native language to English. This can be an argument for people who doubt that English will become a universal language of the future.
How English has become a global language in recent years?
How is English becoming a Universal Language? Well, In recent years people are starting to realise the impact that the English language is having on the world. Every day an increasing amount of people are studying English in schools as a second language to learn how to communicate better with most of the world. In today’s era not learning English can be a barrier for jobs, travel and education.
The English language has shaped the world in a positive way, allowing useful and easier communications between people, parties and businesses. Most of the top universities in the world are in English speaking countries and are very desirable to attend. Most of the time, to study abroad in an English-speaking country, you need to take a lengthy test that will ensure that you can communicate fluently and won’t require a translator for your studies.
As English becomes a global language, its importance will only increase. Some countries have even made it mandatory for English to be taught as second language in school.
This can often be to cater to rich tourists that bring in lots of money to the economy of their country, or to better relations between countries. Tourism is a big thing, and for some countries, is their main source of income.
How long will it take for English to become a universal language?
Some would say English is a global language already, with it being used and adopted all over the world. Many people had predictions in the past on what they thought the universal language of the future might be. There were different predictions for Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish to all be the language of the future. But, it now seems that English is the universal language of the future, at least for the moment.
In the 21st century, so many technological developments have come around, enabling many people to learn new things faster than ever before. One of the main impacts this has had is how easy it is these days for people to learn new things, whether that be an instrument or a new language. The ease of learning these days has resulted in a significant increase in people learning a second or additional language, and very often English will be the language of choice.
Another factor for what has helped to establish English as a global language is that most of the popular media around the world is made in English speaking countries, exclusively in the English Language. Since media and entertainment make up so much of our lives, it’s not just useful for learning English, but to also enjoy the inspiring creativity made by English entertainment. The English entertainment business is constantly growing and in order to properly understand the material, you’ll need to know English.
English is already on its way to being recognised as a Universal language of the future, and some would even say that English is the global language of today.
What will the world look like with English as the universal language?
If English became a universal language, then communication would drastically improve around the globe. Even though some people might only know a couple of sentences, it would be enough for day to day scenarios. On the other hand, some people might not like the idea of English becoming a global language, and they will just stick with their native language.
If English became a global language, then we could see a diverse range of people from different cultures all working under the same language. People could do more business and trade with foreign countries, which will help the world’s economy. The possibilities that come with English as a Global Language are endless, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any disadvantages.
Travel could become easier since more people around the globe would be able to communicate in a common language. This will be beneficial in terms of forming new relationships, as well as making it easier to travel.
English becoming a global language could also create a surge in development and advancement in science, language, and culture. Since more people can communicate with each other, it allows people from different countries, who are particularly knowledgeable or skilled to come together and create ideas. English as a universal language could help to create new words, and lastly, English as a universal language could change the way people live their lives with culture.
If you would like to discover more about English as a global language and the future of English language in the world, then why not consider an English Language Course in Eastbourne with LTC? LTC are a leading English language school operating from the south east coast of England. LTC help to maximise your language learning by teaching you real-life value in an authentic English environment. Discover more about English as a global language with LTC today.
You can get in touch with us by using our contact form, by emailing us at: info@ltc-eastbourne.com or by calling us on: 01323 727755. Discover more about where the English language has come from and where it is headed with LTC today…