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J-Pop
Joined: 07 Oct 2003
Posts: 215
Location: USA
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 Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 12:09 am Post subject: English = Global Language |
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When reading some of the comments by Mark-O & FTG (maybe others?) in the Second Language Learning thread (by "nomadder"), I was reminded of an excellent (& rather short) book written a few years ago by David Crystal, English as a Global Language.
BUT, don't be deceived! 
Though the book is not long, it is packed with loads of excellent information. The guy is a true scholar, but in this book he tries to provide the average person with a condensed version (a summary) of what he has been studying, as a linguist, for many years.
In the course of discussing the current global dominance of English, he talks about how & why this has happened. Other languages (French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic) & their rise to dominance in a given area & time are also discussed.
Not surprisingly:
Desire to attain Power, or gain Status (prestige) or basic Economic motives (or a combination) are among the reasons he cites for why someone might learn another language.
This is all discussed (if I recall correctly), in his book.
I think it is an excellent (rather brief) read for anyone interested in teaching English in other countries.
His latest book is on "Language Death." How & why some languages die out & are replaced by others.
For those interested in language & to provide a "taste" of David Crystal's thinking, learning & insights--here's a link to a Cambridge University Press interview.
Also, note, about half-way through the interview is a free (Mini) "Welsh" language lesson  (He is Welsh? maybe? not sure about that)
http://www.cup.org.br/articles/articles_12.html
Regards, |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 1:36 am Post subject: |
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| Desire to attain Power, or gain Status (prestige) or basic Economic motives (or a combination) are among the reasons he cites for why someone might learn another language. |
Does he also include the following reasons?
1. It is required in your school/university in order to graduate. (Graduation may be for the sake of the school's academic requirements, such as preparation for college, or it may be for the sake of your career, such as studying to be a doctor or scientist. I will use the former situation as Quebec, or some other bilingual region/country.)
2. You are planning to work in a certain country and just want to be able to communicate. (Maybe this sounds like economic motives, but it might not be purely economic.)
3. You have married a foreign person and want/need to communicate with your spouse and friends/relatives better.
4. Love of languages and/or a sense of personal challenge. (I don't see this as either a power trip or a sense of status/prestige all the time.)
5. Mere sightseeing, where knowing a foreign language simply helps in communicating with the locals on a cultural level, not solely to know how to buy things without getting scammed. Been on plenty of bus tours and such where I would've loved to know what the conductor was saying as we passed by a touristy sight. |
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J-Pop
Joined: 07 Oct 2003
Posts: 215
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 1:56 am Post subject: great stuff |
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Glenski,
As usual your comments & questions are perceptive and thoughtful. Or, as my friends from the land of OZ might say, they are spot on. (I hope that's an acceptable use of that phrase!  )
You asked:
| Quote: |
| Does he also include the following reasons? |
I don't recall, but I wouldn't be surprised if, in fact, he does refer to some (all?) of those additional reasons (motives) for learning another language you cite. I honestly don't remember--and I guess I'm too lazy to go dig it out of a box & have a quick look through. 
But that is one of the reasons I purposefully wrote, "among the reasons" he mentions: so as to leave myself an out, just in case my memory might be a bit rusty!
It's been a while since I read the book, so I was kind of winging it. He seems to be a humane, open-minded & very knowledgeable & fair type of writer--while aiming to be as objective as possible, IMHO.
Finally, several of the reasons you cite (not all) actually are among the most important reasons why I personally have studied foreign languages.
Having said that--it is not inconceivable that some of the motives (reasons) I noted [again, not meant to be an exhaustive list] could be combined together with ones you suggest.
Cheers, |
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Roger
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 9138
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 10:19 am Post subject: |
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Other reasons why English is making inroads everywhere:
- It's the working lingo of aviation;
- it's the language in which scientific findings are publicized the first
(usually);
- it's one of the dominant lingos at the UNO and its various sub-organi-
sations which, when they dispatch staff to some foreign country,
rely on English as the medium of communication (see the various
peace-keeping efforts);
- tourism and hospitality businesses, and training in these sectors;
just imagine the youth hostels or the YMCA/YWCA's without English
speakers!
- and, yes: it is being forced down the throats of almost anybody these days, and thus it is creating job opportunities for many of us! |
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Jeff Mohamed
Joined: 18 Oct 2003
Posts: 34
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 11:48 am Post subject: Why English is the global lingua franca |
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| I don't think there's any mystery about why English has become the world's lingua franca: Britain was the world's dominant military and economic power in the 19th Century and the USA was the world's dominant military and political power in the 20th Century! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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Jeff,
I just wanted to jump in here and say welcome back to the board. Haven't seen your name on here in ages.
VS |
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Jeff Mohamed
Joined: 18 Oct 2003
Posts: 34
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 4:21 pm Post subject: Thanks for the welcome |
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Hi.
I haven't had time to read the Jobs Discussion boards for ages because it's been a busy year for me: CELTAs, teaching, writing, etc. Also, being something of a technopeasant, it took me a while to understand the new format of the boards! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 4:41 am Post subject: |
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Hi Jeff
It took a bit of getting used to for all of us and there are still things that I preferred about the old system, but like all in life, it has advantages and disadvantages.
Back down the board to my usual haunts in the ME section.
VS |
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