HANOI UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

ASSIGNMENT COVER

Unit: APPLIED LINGUISTICS Unit Code:

Lecturer: PhD. NGUYEN DUC HOAT

Class: 1TH.A.28
Student: CHU NGOC VAN Student ID: 2087010029
Tel: 0914025897

Essay Title:
DISCUSS THE ROLE OF ENGLISH AS A GLOBAL LANGUAGE

Due date: 15/09/2021 Date of submission: 15/09/2021

Student declaration: I declare that this is my own work except where clearly
acknowledged.

Signature of student:

Hanoi - 2021
Discuss the Role of English as a Global Language Chu Ngoc Van

Table of Contents

1. Definitions of a global language..............................................................................................4

2. A real need for a global English..............................................................................................5

a. Communications.............................................................................................................................5

b. Globalized trade..............................................................................................................................5

3. Factors to make English as a global English...........................................................................6

a. Politic and economic power............................................................................................................6

b. Wide usage.....................................................................................................................................6

c. Richness of English vocabulary......................................................................................................7

d. Simpleness of English script and grammar.....................................................................................7

4. The role of the English language in the global context...........................................................7

a. Technology.....................................................................................................................................8

b. Science...........................................................................................................................................8

c. Education........................................................................................................................................8

d. Employment...................................................................................................................................8

5. Potential consequences of using English the global language.................................................9

a. Threat to minority languages..........................................................................................................9

b. Pressure on non-native English speakers......................................................................................10

6. Implications of adopting English as a global language.........................................................11

Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................13

References......................................................................................................................................14

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Discuss the Role of English as a Global Language Chu Ngoc Van

Introduction

With ever-increasing levels of globalization and interconnection, the importance of

immediate and relevant ways of communication has risen dramatically in the modern world.

With the advancement of both information technology and globalization, it is clear that most

people all over the world are speaking in a global language - English. The English language's

global status has shifted significantly in recent years. This article provides readers with some

definitions of a global language from linguists. The real need for global English for

communication and international trade are also discussed. Besides, the subjective and objective

reasons why English has become a global language are analysed. However, a global language

has disadvantages to other languages and puts pressure on non-native English speakers. As a

result, how this language should be conceptualized and taught is crucial.

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Discuss the Role of English as a Global Language Chu Ngoc Van

1. Definitions of a global language

There is no official definition of a global language, however, linguistics has their own

description. Congolese linguist Salikoko Mufwene (2010) defines global languages as languages

spoken outside of their homelands and by populations other than those ethnically or nationally

associated with them. While Mufwene uses geographical boundaries to determine a global

language, German sociolinguist Ulrich Ammon (2010) considers the global communication

function of a language as a key factor. A global language must be used by people who do not

share it as a native language. Aside from the communication feature, Ammon develops a set of

globality indicators to assess the extent to which a given language can be considered a world

language. The number of non-native speakers is the first of these indicators. Other indicators are

the number of native speakers, the number of countries that use the language as an official

language as well as those countries' geographical distribution, international business use, the

prevalence in scientific publications and economic strength (measured as the native

speakers' GDP). Spanish sociolinguist Clare Mar-Molinero also proposes a series of indicators,

but his indicators are quite different from Ammon’s. They are demographics, attitudes towards

the language, and political, legal, economic, scientific, technological, academic, educational, and

cultural domains. Culpepper (1997), on the other hand, believes that the power of its people,

including military, political, and economic strength, is the most important cause for making a

language universal (as cited in Ukessay, 2018). Sharing the same idea, Luke Mastin (2011)

asserts that a language has no autonomous existence of its own, and a particular language only

dominates when its speakers dominate. Therefore, the essential factor for the establishment of a

global language is that it is spoken by those who wield power. It means that a language becomes

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Discuss the Role of English as a Global Language Chu Ngoc Van

a global language, maintains and expands its position primarily because of the political power of

its native speakers and the economic power.

In total, a global language serves as a common language that enables people from diverse

backgrounds and ethnicities to communicate. It is characterized not only by the power of native

speakers, but also by the number of its native and non-native speakers, its geographical

distribution, and its use in international organizations and diplomatic relations.

2. A real need for a global English

A global language has never been more important in a world of modern communications

and globalized trade.

a. Communications

A global English removes boundaries, eases communication among cultures and allows

people to better comprehend others’ cultures. With the appearance of multinational organizations

such as the United Nations, World Bank, World Health Organization as well as collective

organizations such as the Commonwealth and the European Union, the establishment of a

worldwide lingua franca is necessary. It is estimated that up to one-third of the administration

costs of the European Community is taken up by translations into the various member languages

[ CITATION Mas11 \l 1033 ].

b. Globalized trade

With the rise of globalization, an unprecedented amount of international trade and

business among different countries is carried out. International trade and economic prosperity are

facilitated by global English. Because effective cross-cultural communication and intercultural

negotiations are the foundations of successful business communications. Using the LBI -

Language Barrier Index (a quantifier of international language barriers by measuring the

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Discuss the Role of English as a Global Language Chu Ngoc Van

dissimilarity between the main languages of trading partners), Lohmann (2011) finds that

language barriers are a significant deterrent to bilateral trade. Trade flows between two countries

can be reduced by 7-10% when the LBI increases by 10%.

3. Factors to make English as a global English

a. Political and economic power

As mentioned in the first part of this paper, a global language is established mainly

because of native speakers’ power politics and economy. British imperial power helped English

go around the world between the 17th and 20th century. In various counties, British imperialism

institutionalized English in their courts, parliament, civil services, educational institutions. In the

others, English was also used as a neutral means of communication among different ethnic

groups. Apart from that, the significant impact of America on various fields such as economy,

culture, entertainment and information technology consolidated the position of the English

language and continues to maintain it today. Because of the United States' global power and

influence, English is critical for growing international markets.

b. Wide usage

No language has ever been as widely spoken as English. Though the Chinese language

has a large number of speakers around the world, it is only spoken in China, whereas English is

spoken in a lot of countries around the world, regardless of their mother tongue. Its global reach

is much greater than that of Latin or French in the past. English is estimated to have official

status in 85% of international organizations, French comes next with less than 50%. More than

30% of international organizations use English as their sole official language, and this figure

rises nearly 90% among Asian international organizations. According to Crystal (2001), English

is officially used in over 60 countries. English is also the language of international air traffic

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Discuss the Role of English as a Global Language Chu Ngoc Van

control, and the primary language of world publishing, science and technology (as cited in

Ukessays, 2018). Moreover, English is spoken as a first language by approximately 375 million

people and as a second language by over 750 million people [ CITATION Rao19 \l 1033 ].

c. The richness of English vocabulary

The richness of English’s vocabulary makes it become a flexible language. According to

Luke Mastin (2011), the English lexicon is currently growing by over 8,500 words per year,

although other estimates range from 15,000 to 20,000. It is estimated that approximately 200,000

English words are in common use, compared to 184,000 in German, and only 100,000 in French.

The availability of large numbers of synonyms allows for shades of distinction that are not

available to non-English speakers. The expression of meaning in various areas such as poetry,

business, everyday conversation becomes easier with the wealth of English phrases. Speakers

can use the same word in more than one function such as book (a noun and a verb), hard (an

adjective and an adverb), like (a verb, an adjective and a conjunction). New words can simply be

created by adding prefixes or suffixes (sufficient – insufficient, entertain – entertainment, large –

enlarge).

d. The simpleness of English script and grammar

The script and grammar of the English language are evaluated simpler than those of most

others in the world. The Latin script helps people recognize and learn in an easy way. In

sentences, verbs are usually dispensed by nouns. While forms for almost English nouns consist

of two types (singular and plural), Finnish has fifteen forms for every noun, or Russian has

twelve. An English verb only retains 5 at most (break, breaks, breaking, broke, broken),

compared to German which has 16 different forms for each verb.

4. The role of the English language in the global context

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Discuss the Role of English as a Global Language Chu Ngoc Van

a. Technology

The advent of the internet revolutionized human being’s ways of interaction by a mode of

fast communication channel without boundaries and brought massive changes in the global

context. The internet has become an important linguistic medium as computer-mediated

communication which is one of the main factors of globalization. Parupalli Srinivas Rao’s

research (2019) shows that 56% of the internet sites are designed in English, compared to 6% in

Russian, 5% in Spanish or German. Furthermore, the modern modes of communication in

international business such as emails, documents, videos, etc. are mainly displayed in English.

Using English as a tool of communication among business organizations in global business

happens under the control of World Trade Organization (WTO)[ CITATION Gra97 \l 1033 ].

b. Science

English has a great impact on communication in science. With the arrival of global

English, scientists can make use of the available scientific sources and communicate with others

around the globe. Now, English has become the prevalent predominant language in some non-

English speaking countries such as France, Spain and Germany. The ratio of papers published in

English versus in their native languages reached 40 : 1 [ CITATION Rao19 \l 1033 ]. Besides,

they must read English academic papers and attend international conferences, seminars and

workshops to share and enhance their knowledge and discuss with other co-scientists all over the

world.

c. Education

Many countries have made English a compulsory subject. Due to the popularity of

English as a medium of instruction, it has been widely adopted by students, instructors, and

academics around the world. The educational system has seen dramatic changes in recent years,

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Discuss the Role of English as a Global Language Chu Ngoc Van

and students can now access information from around the world by just accessing the internet.

Moreover, the students can learn the subjects on their own and acquire a self-learning mindset.

Students who intend to study abroad will benefit greatly from learning English.

d. Employment

Due to the fact that most organizations do business internationally, most employers

expect language skills, especially communication skills in English, from their employees. For

example, international travel agencies also aim at recruiting people who can communicate well

with the international tourists in English. During interviews, the interviewers examine not only

candidates’ academic background and educational qualifications but also their communication

skills. Candidate's communication abilities, both verbal and written, will allow them to work

anyplace in the current global employment market, including international organizations.

5. Potential consequences of using English as a global language

There are some concerns that a dominant global language may have some built-in

drawbacks like a threat to minority languages and pressure on non-native English speakers.

a. Threat to minority languages

Language is a central feature of human identity and it is inextricably bound with identity

and every language, as an integral part of a culture, is a rich heritage of that culture which

mirrors its speakers’ identity. However, adoption of a global language may weaken and

eventually eliminate some minority languages. Crystal (1997) affirms that once a global

language is in a place, other languages will vanish gradually. According to a BBC article, in the

last century, about 400 languages disappeared, and if nothing is done, half of these languages

spoken today will disappear by the end of this century. With the extinction of unwritten and

undocumented languages, humanity would lose not only cultural wealth but also important

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Discuss the Role of English as a Global Language Chu Ngoc Van

ancestral knowledge embedded, in particular, in indigenous languages. Every language carries a

part of human culture, identity, history and civilization, then, an extinct language means the loss

of a wealth of ecological information. When a language is lost, a specific worldview disappears

permanently and irrevocably, according to Keebe (2003), who compares it with losing an animal

or plant. Thus their maintenance and revitalization are significant. To survive, these languages

must be passed down from generation to generation. Keeping written or video records of

minority languages can also help to pass them down to generations. Educational strategies and

appropriate methodology for teaching global English raise people’s awareness and provide

insights into the value of their native language. It also needs involving in international

interactions and communications thanks to the support from globalized media. The World Wide

Web provides limitless resources for interactively introducing local and minority languages

(Majidi, 2013).

b. Pressure on non-native English speakers

Additionally, the burdens and pressures on non-native English speakers are clearly

increased. For example, in the area of employment, global English is a competitive advantage.

Employers without English skills may lose career opportunities and receive lower wages. In the

area of science, it may be a challenge for non-native English scientists to clearly explain their

concepts, methods, findings and conclusions. Furthermore, scientists who want their work to be

globally recognized must attend English conferences or discussions and read English scientific

papers. So, using English as a global language can damage non-native English speakers’ morale,

create unhealthy divides between native and non-native speakers, and reduce overall productivity

[ CITATION Nee12 \l 1033 ]. Non-native English speakers should be inspired by a combination

of strong psychological motivation and practical training so that they are optimistic, confident

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Discuss the Role of English as a Global Language Chu Ngoc Van

and excited about the language shift. Constant encouragement as well as a variety of language-

development opportunities must be provided. Companies need to work with language vendors

who specialize at various levels of proficiency. The vendors need to be intimately familiar with

the company context to guide non-native speakers learning. Besides, opportunities such as

overseas language training are required, which opens new doors and stretch their skills.

6. Implications of adopting English as a global language

Adopting English as a global language has significantly influenced language teaching and

learning around the world. The increasing globalization of English has changed learners’

linguistic needs and goals. The major goal of language learners is to achieve successful

international communication with other speakers from different linguistic and cultural

backgrounds (Jenkins, 1998). Moreover, students may use English in multilingual contexts to

share information about their own countries and cultures for occupational and economic

purposes (McKay, 2003). Cook (1997) points that language pedagogy should be built around

second language models and the students’ first language because of linguistical and cognitive

differences. Students’ language skills will have to be advanced to address complex concepts in

the process of second language acquisition. He argues that fostering multi-competence in

language learners and a translingual pedagogy give importance to communicative effectiveness

and negotiations of meaning. In the implementation of pedagogy, teachers play a critical role.

Teachers should be aware of the current status of English and comprehensive information on the

global spread of English, and hold positive attitudes towards them (Renandya, 2012).

Furthermore, it is necessary for teachers to recognize the potential challenges that may arise in

their teaching English as a global language. Traditionally, there was a preference for native

speaking teachers over non-native teachers. However, English globalisation has resulted in a

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greater demand for English teachers than ever before; native speakers will undoubtedly be

unable to meet this enormous demand (Llurda, 2017; McKay, 2003). Matsuda (2003) maintained

that language teachers should not be defined solely in terms of their non-nativeness. They must

be given ongoing opportunities, both during and after the program, to assess their weaknesses

and strengths, to overcome their weaknesses, and to maximize their strengths.

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Discuss the Role of English as a Global Language Chu Ngoc Van

Conclusion

It is concluded that a global language is a language people use to communicate among

different countries and regions in the world. It is recognized for some reasons such as native

speaker’s power, the number of speakers, geographical distribution and its use around the world.

It is an undeniable fact that there is a real need for a common language to communicate and carry

out global commerce among companies from all over the world. English is considered as this

common language due to the political and economic power of the British Empire and America;

its population in international and regional organizations, and non-English speaking countries; a

variety of its vocabulary; and its uncomplicated script and grammar. As a global language,

English has a dominant position in many areas, especially, technology, science, education and

employment. Nevertheless, global English also has negative effects on minority languages and

non-native English speakers. Thus, teaching and learning English need to be “in line with the

sociolinguistic realities of the spread of English as an international language” [ CITATION

Bro97 \l 1033 ].

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Discuss the Role of English as a Global Language Chu Ngoc Van

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