More than 1000 people speak English every day all around the world. Almost 80% of the Internet’s content is in English. English has been adopted as the official language for aircraft and airport communication. Why is that? Because English has become a “global language”. How did it happen? There are 3 main stages in the process of globalization of the English language: British Empire Colonization in the 19th century, the rise of American power after the Second World War and the consolidation of English as a Second Language (ESL) worldwide in the last 2 decades.
First of all, English was spread all around the world in the nineteenth century by the British Empire. At that time, countries tried to increase their power by conquering more territories. They found new lands, created new cities and imposed their language and culture on the “natives” (people who already lived there). This process has been called “colonization”. In the nineteenth century the British Empire was one of the most powerful empires. It had such an advanced military technology that it was called “the King of the Seas” that is why they were able to travel abroad and to conquer new lands in Asia, Africa and America. In these places they founded new cities and taught the natives the English language by force. This was the first step in the process of English Globalization. Britain was its author and the “Commonwealth” (the group of cities that belong to the English Empire) its result.
However, at the beginning and middle of the twentieth century the United Kingdom (UK) started to loose its power. After the First World War and especially after the Second World War, the UK became powerless and a new leader arose in the world: the United States of America (USA). This country led such a technological revolution that helped English spread all around the world. The second stage in English globalization was possible due to the appearance of the TV and the radio as massive means of audiovisual communication. At this time Hollywood industry became very popular and its movies and advertisements allowed English arrive in every home worldwide. Although the TV and radio fulfilled an important role in the 60s and 70s, the biggest revolution occurred in the 80s and 90s by the invention of the computer and the Internet. The Internet has become the new means of English dissemination. In brief, American economic and technological development after the Second World War was responsible for the second stage in the process of English Globalization.
What is the third stage in this process? The third step is the consolidation of English as a “lingua franca”. A “lingua franca” is a language adopted as a common means of communication between people who speak different native tongues. Although English is not the official language in many countries, it has been taught and studied as a second language (ESL) by people from different cultures. Even after the “decolonization” process (when many countries declare their independence from the British Empire in the 60s and 70s) the new governments agreed with the fact that they needed to speak English as well as their native tongues. Although English was taught by force in the nineteenth century, the new governments considered it as a “neutral language” and spoke it in the administration, transport and trade fields. The main reason that explains this phenomenon is the worldwide common belief that English is the best and easiest way of communication between cultures. It works as a “link language” that makes global trade, business, international relations, diplomacy, international cooperation, air and sea communications, possible. English has reached such significance in our every day life that if you do not speak this language, you can be considered as an illiterate person of the 21st century.
In conclusion, English has become a global language thanks to the British Empire in the 19th century, the United States of America and its technological revolution in the second part of the 20th century and the worldwide agreement to speak English as a lingua franca nowadays.
First of all, English was spread all around the world in the nineteenth century by the British Empire. At that time, countries tried to increase their power by conquering more territories. They found new lands, created new cities and imposed their language and culture on the “natives” (people who already lived there). This process has been called “colonization”. In the nineteenth century the British Empire was one of the most powerful empires. It had such an advanced military technology that it was called “the King of the Seas” that is why they were able to travel abroad and to conquer new lands in Asia, Africa and America. In these places they founded new cities and taught the natives the English language by force. This was the first step in the process of English Globalization. Britain was its author and the “Commonwealth” (the group of cities that belong to the English Empire) its result.
However, at the beginning and middle of the twentieth century the United Kingdom (UK) started to loose its power. After the First World War and especially after the Second World War, the UK became powerless and a new leader arose in the world: the United States of America (USA). This country led such a technological revolution that helped English spread all around the world. The second stage in English globalization was possible due to the appearance of the TV and the radio as massive means of audiovisual communication. At this time Hollywood industry became very popular and its movies and advertisements allowed English arrive in every home worldwide. Although the TV and radio fulfilled an important role in the 60s and 70s, the biggest revolution occurred in the 80s and 90s by the invention of the computer and the Internet. The Internet has become the new means of English dissemination. In brief, American economic and technological development after the Second World War was responsible for the second stage in the process of English Globalization.
What is the third stage in this process? The third step is the consolidation of English as a “lingua franca”. A “lingua franca” is a language adopted as a common means of communication between people who speak different native tongues. Although English is not the official language in many countries, it has been taught and studied as a second language (ESL) by people from different cultures. Even after the “decolonization” process (when many countries declare their independence from the British Empire in the 60s and 70s) the new governments agreed with the fact that they needed to speak English as well as their native tongues. Although English was taught by force in the nineteenth century, the new governments considered it as a “neutral language” and spoke it in the administration, transport and trade fields. The main reason that explains this phenomenon is the worldwide common belief that English is the best and easiest way of communication between cultures. It works as a “link language” that makes global trade, business, international relations, diplomacy, international cooperation, air and sea communications, possible. English has reached such significance in our every day life that if you do not speak this language, you can be considered as an illiterate person of the 21st century.
In conclusion, English has become a global language thanks to the British Empire in the 19th century, the United States of America and its technological revolution in the second part of the 20th century and the worldwide agreement to speak English as a lingua franca nowadays.
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