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Will the English language be the future language of the world? -written by Nitisha Gurjar (BA English Hons.)

English has spread more than any other language and it still does. This is due to several factors, including British colonization, the Industrial Revolution's scientific advancements, American political and economic dominance, and additional (mainly American) technological advancements in the second half of the 20th century. The huge exportation of English as a second language and the expansion of English-language mass media have both contributed to its increase.

 

The drive to study it is insatiable on a global scale. The adoption of English is a sign that the world is getting more urbanized and middle-class in the twenty-first century since English is becoming more and more the de facto language of commerce and popular culture. In other fields like transportation, diplomacy, computing, medicine, and education, it is dominant or at least highly significant. According to a recent survey, among students in the United Arab Emirates, "Arabic is symbolic of modernity, work, higher education, commerce, economics, science, and technology," whereas English "is symbolic of tradition, home, religion, culture, school, arts, and social sciences."

 

Many places where English was originally the language of the imperial overlords view it with distrust. It is far from being a force for harmony, and maintaining it is difficult. Even though English is widely used in India's media, government, schools, and businesses, there are attempts to limit its dominance. However, despite being vilified as a tool of colonialism, English has survived and, in most cases, expanded, adding more speakers and uses.

 

In the first half of the 20th century, H.G. Wells predicted World English in his prophetic book "The World Set Free." Only in the 1960s did this phrase become widely used to describe the idea of English as an international language, a global second language, a conduit for thought and commerce, and even a tool for the major English-speaking countries' foreign policy. However, the concept has been discussed earlier, not just by Wells but also by Alexander Melville Bell, who in 1888 introduced World-English, a system of updated spellings meant to aid students in learning the language that, in his opinion, outperformed all others "in general fitness to become the tongue of the World."

 

Although  the phrase "World English" is still in use, some people disagree with it because they feel it suggests a strong sense of dominance . Today, World English is known by a variety of names, with Globish being one of the most memorable. Jean-Paul Nerrière popularized this word in his book "Don't Speak English, Parlez Globish." A retired Indian engineer named Madhukar Gogate has independently developed a concept for something he also refers to as Globish. To produce what he believes to be a cleaner form of English, he would make use of phonetic spellings. This may develop into a universal tongue that unites individuals of various civilizations.

 

Although these plans may be intended to promote a neutral form of English rather than one that is loaded with "Anglo" values, they are still a part of a larger, frequently invisible project to create a community of English speakers without regard to national boundaries, to make their use appear not only normal but also prestigious, and to promote English as a language of wealth, opportunity, scholarship, democracy, and moral right. This is supported by the economy, politics, education, media, and occasionally even by the use of force.

 

Today, English is the world's second language, not any artificial substitute. More people than native English speakers speak English as a second language. Even the most cautious estimate puts the number of English speakers who speak it as a second language at 500 million. More people around the world are excitedly embracing it than are making an effort to stop it from progressing. Sometimes the dedication seems holy and can even involve what could seem to others to be self-mortification.

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