How English globalisation threatens other languages?

Question

Globalisation of English can be defined as the rapid spread of English as a second and foreign language. According to a recent report by British Council, within a decade, there will be 2 billion of people studying English and half of the world will speak it. On the other hand, UNESCO reported in its recent report also, at the end of 20th century, 6800 languages were classified as being threatened. So what legacies has English globalisation caused to other languages? Do you think we should preserve minor and valuable languages?

Answer 1

I have heard that anthropologists are recording and preserving exotic languages. English is a convenient world language because it has a high degree of flexibility, or so I am told. The European Union is moving to English.
The McDonaldization of language does eliminate diversity and interest.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

This isn't entirely the fault of English. In history, dominant languages have always threatened the survival of the languages they replaced or suppressed. Latin was responsible for the demise of numerous languages which had thrived in the territory later occupied by the Roman Empire. The same applies to indigenous languages in Latin America, which were displaced by Spanish and Portuguese, or minority languages in China, which are dying out because of Mandarin.
So while this phenomenon is regrettable from the viewpoint of a linguist, it seems to be a fact of life which just exists, whether we like it or not.

Answer 4

The Globalization of English is already happening and there is nothing we can do about it. Languages that are being lost is like a culture or civilization being lost because technology and business is getting better. Companies who trade have to learn the language of the people they are trading with so the young generation has no choice but to speak English because huge corporations are moving in the their lungs.They are consumed in the battle of Languages.

Answer 5

Lentino,
I hear you.
However, there is another way of looking at this situation.
English globalization is in a way destroying the English language.
We can´t even write, speak it correctly, for the most part.
For other languages being threatened, history has taught us
that people will learn the 'new' language imposed on them, but
they will be very careful in maintaining their culture including
its language.
Makes sense?