Is English the 'global language'?

Question

'English is fast becoming the global language' or so we are told, is it there yet, and what does it take to be a global language?

Answer 1

English is considered to be the global language because it is the most commonly spoken second language in the world. People use it for business, study and travel. Although other languages such as Mandarin have larger numbers of speakers they still aren't considered 'global' because on the whole they are only understood by people of the same nationality. Furthermore, having lived in China I can say that many Chinese people actually speak dialects so Mandarin isn't as widely spoken as we might think.

Answer 2

It's unfortunate that English is now seen as the global language!

The most commonly used language in the world is Mandarin Chinese! However the influence of English is undeniable. Through means such as the discovery of countries in previous centuries English, in its many varieties, has spread.

English is now used as the main langauge for many things, such as aviation, and even Eurovision. Not a bad achievement for a language that was actually manufactured from the roots of Germanic, French, Greek and Latin languages over a period of about 1000 years! None of the main language is really original.

Furthermore, one of the interpretations to English being the global language is that its the only one that people bother to learn. Being English we have to learn it, and so many European children learn it that its spreading at an unbelievable pace! However, is it merely because so few English people learn languages nowadays? How hard do foreigners have to work to communicate with us?

Answer 3

English became a global language initially because of we are a seafaring nation and therefore colonist went all over the world. Convicts were sent to Australia, the pilgrim fathers went to America etc. Missionaries also what to various countries to preach Christianity. English has gradually grown because of music and films etc in the present day. It is used as a common language (lingua franca) between two foreigners speak to each other. Spanish is spoken by most of South America except for Brazil, the French also have a lot of overseas territories. So these three languages pretty get you everywhere.

Answer 4

For now.

Basically English is a global language because if someone from Portugal wanted to speak to someone from Poland, they are more likely to use English than any other language. In other words, English is the most commonly spoken second language in the world.

Answer 5

No it is not. It is a widely used second language due to the BRITISH EMPIRE and more recently the internet and its ease of learning. Spanish as a simple result of demographics will become the first language of the USA.
Mandarin is the most widely spoken language on earth and undoubtedly will grow as Chinese influence grows in the next few centuries. I predict Mandarin, Spanish and Arabic to be the big players in future.
There is no such thing as a global language...it simply cant be permitted for political and cultural reasons by all parties involved.


TO SUSUZE 2000....where the hell do you get your information you IDIOT. "technically spanish is the most spoken......" erm...WRONG.. "there are more American tourists than everyone else so everyone is caving to the pressure" WTF!!!!! What planet are you on ...let me guess planet America. I am tryin to do the math, but is it not something like..4% of dumb yanks have passports...so they are'nt really the greatest of world travellers are they?.... Maybe you're gettin confused with tourists and soldiers or something. As in they have raped so many countries since WW2 that people are caving to the pressure. Please remember the British Empire and the missions of the catholic and protestant churches to teach "savages/heathens" the language of god.

Answer 6

It is the global 'language of the skies' in that Air Traffic Controllers all over the world must communicate in English - rightly so as well

Answer 7

compared to any other language, yeah, English is the universal/global language. most people in touristy spots know English all over the world, but obviously, its not the other way around. someone from rural Cambodia or something would have a lot of trouble getting around New York City, but if someone from rural America went to Paris, Rome, Tokyo, or even Phnom Penh ( capital of Cambodia) they wouldnt have nearly as much trouble!!! u know, so, BASICALLY, english is the UNDECLARED global language

Answer 8

computers have made it even more so but don't forget that mandarin is still spoken by more people and Spanish is a close third.

when people from different places use a third language to communicate, that is English in most cases and therefore, as the lingua franca of the world, it is a global language

german comes nowhere. French is only good in africa

Answer 9

Almost all countries have English as a mandatory language. When I was in India.. everything was in Enlish (in New Delhi atleast). Even the Indian words that were written were spelled out in english so any english speaking person could read them even if they didn't understand it. My cousins in Germany have to take it in their school...I'm pretty sure people in Japan understood everything I was saying for the most part- even if they didn't all speak it. In Egypt some guy tried to buy my mom from my dad for 10000 camels.. and he asked in English... so I'm pretty sure if you know English you'll be able to get by in any country.

Answer 10

What is actually becoming the global language is bad English a kind of international patois which is not as bad as it seems the importance is to communicate