When asked how the globalization of English impacts the language itself I can’t help but think of an experience I had when I was thirteen on a trip to Brazil with me Spanish club. We had all brought a backpack filled with school supplies to take to a small school in the outskirts of Sao Paulo, I fell in love with the mot adorable seven year old girl (when I say fall in love, please understand I am using that term in a very different, non-creepy way) and spent the day playing dolls and coloring with her. While I couldn’t communicate back she would talk a lot in Portuguese. I was only in my second year of middle school Spanish and could pick up some of what she said (Portuguese is similar to Spanish), but did not have the talent to respond. When it was time to go she gave me a hug and said “I love you”. I honestly do not believe that she knew what she was saying exactly, but she knew this was what we say in English to show gratitude and care. This little girl was in the first grade and was living in a very rural, poor part of the country where English was not common. How did she know how to say and when to use the phrase “I love you”?
Some historians say Old English can be traced back to the fifth century. If our language is that old how could it not have become globalized? The United States of America is a powerhouse of the world; many people from other countries want to live the “American Dream”. The American language is English. In my opinion, other countries are teaching their new generations the English language to help their people in their quest to fulfill the American dream. I want to be clear that I am not dense to the fact that we are not the only country to be predominantly English; I am aware that in fact many countries have more English speakers than we do.
I believe this globalization has a both positive and negative impact on the English language. Positively, English the language has been influenced by other parts of the world, our language has been introduced to new words and sounds that have force their way into the English language. For example the words “alcohol” is an Arabic word that came from “alchemists”. Perhaps it’s the ability to introduce new words into our language that has globalized English. Our language has grown because of the many different places it has been. Negatively, however, I feel our language has been altered by the many different tongues that speak it. Some accents can so greatly alter a word that it is no longer recognizable as part of the English language. Also, in other countries words are often used incorrectly when they are not fully understood which can give the word an entirely different meaning from its English definition. (This is simply about the language of English. For our planet I believe the globalization of English shows unity in a way, but the question is specific the English language.)
The globalization of English is undeniable, it will not stop. Hopefully, and I think it will, this globalization will help our language to grow and improve its lasting power. We speak a great language, which is made clear by the many countries that speak it. I think our language will be what our time here on this earth is remembered by in the far future of our planet and human race.
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Hi Shannon! In the essence of critical thinking and constructive criticism, I disagree at some of your views here. I’m quoting David Crystal who wrote the essay/article called Why a Global Language? “…learners sometimes comment on the ‘familiarity’ of English vocabulary, deriving from the way English has over the centuries borrowed thousands of new words from the languages with which it has been in contact. (Exploring Language page 182-183, paragraph 18). So, when you claimed that, “our language has been introduced to new words and sounds that have force their way into the English language.” I disagree; English borrowed them because of the lack of “our language” to make an equivalent meaning to foreign words such as “voila! and resume’ ” both words are from French language, but since English term cannot find equal meanings to both words or they (probably) just sound better in French, English language adapted and adopted them. It’s not like, picture this: English language as a globe of pure language in itself and other foreign languages just want to force their way in climbing, digging, scratching, to get in and be accepted and be called English language. That’s not how other foreign language evolved into their own unique language. English is not pure in itself, even Crystal, said so because many words in English are borrowed. Therefore, like U.S. is considered a melting pot because of many races and ethnicities that live here, thus English is a melting pot of language.
ReplyDeleteYou also said the following, “I feel our language has been altered by the many different tongues that speak it. Some accents can so greatly alter a word that it is no longer recognizable as part of the English language.” Yet you didn’t give us, your readers, example(s) of what you mean by this statement. Maybe if you have shown an example or two, I would be able to understand better what you mean. Because in my opinion, an English word spoken and/or enunciated even in the thickest accent does not change its meaning. Take for example, “Bought, bat, bet, bait is a four-way distinction for an English speaker, but may only be a two-way distinction for a Spanish or Japanese speaker. Difference in vowels can make dialects of English incomprehensible even to each other at first.” (EL, par. 9, pg. 156) But it is fixable, and if one used one of these words in a sentence and mispronounce the word due to their accent, the person hearing it can automatically question in his/her head what the person is trying to say and does the mental correction. S/he may correct the other person, but the meaning of the word that was mispronounced has not changed at all; not if the person hearing and translating the term grasps the speaker’s intention or message. Just a reminder: In the essence of critical thinking and constructive criticism. Thanks!