Global English

There are almost two billions people speaking or learning English in the world (The information is from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language). It is amazing that China will become the largest English speaking country. As English beats all other language and becomes global language, will it lose its own originality?

The importance of English is obvious. It is like a bridge making people from different countries communicate with each other easily. For international companies, English let all workers around the world cooperate smoothly. Learning English is the key to succeed. If you are good at English especially in developing countries, you will have more opportunities to get a better job for seeking a better life. In China, 25% of high school students’ grade is based on English in the entrance exams for the University (The information is from the video: English Mania!). Moreover, English is the access to get the latest information of the changeable world. For instance, all the essential journals and research are published in English. It is the irresistible trend that English becomes global language. However, some people worry about that the depth, quality and originality of English will be affected because more and more non-native speakers use English in their own way.

In my opinion, English will not lost its depth, quality and originality. On the other hand, it will have more and more abundant vocabulary, usages, and patterns because of the following reasons. First, language is not merely a communication tool. It is alive. More and more people use English in different situations: on the Internet, writing books, making speeches…Gradually, English grammars and usages change. Take Face Book as an example. Now people are used to saying that “Do you have Face Book? I want to “friend ” you!”, which we seldom use that way before. Because of frequent use of English, it has more opportunities to increase usages and patterns of vocabulary and sentences. Second, language is a part of the culture. As English is used in different countries, various and colorful culture will penetrate secretly into English. When it comes to food, every place has its own dish. Therefore, new vocabulary appears. For example, “Teriyaki” which is derived from Japanese now is popularly used in restaurants in the US. Third, because English becomes a global language, linguists all over the world dedicate their whole lives in conducting research on English, including its originality, history and evolution. As a result, English will be one of the most completely studied conserved languages.
In conclude, English as a global language rather than lost its depth, quality and originality, it has more diversity and variability because it is frequently used, enriched by a variety of culture and well studied by people all over the world.