The estimated number of language of languages in the world about 4,000 to 4,500.But considering the total world population of 4 billion and 19 million; this seems to be a small number. If we divide this number by 4,500 languages, we number approximately one language for every 893,111 people. There are only five languages namely Chinese, English, Hindi, Urdu, Russian and Spanish .Of these languages only English can claim to be the world language in the sense that in its various forms and functions, it is used by a large portion of human population or easy communication between and among diverse cultural and language backgrounds.
Worldwide, there are over 1400 million people living in countries where English has official status. One out of five of the world’s population speaks English to some level of competence. Demand from the other four fifth is in creasing…
By the year 2000,it is estimated that over one billion people will be learning English .English is the main language of books, newspapers, airports and air traffic control, international, science, technology, diplomacy, spot ,pop music and advertising .
-British Council’s English 2000 project.
Mr. Nehru acknowledged in parliament that English was ‘the major window for us to the outside world. We dare not close that window, and if we do, it will spell peril for the future’.
‘English is a link; so also, we need a international link’ said by Indira Gnadhi - 12 December 1967 .
Now, we go to our main point ‘the future of English in the world of communication explosion’ before that some historical background or present state is necessary to predict the future of English .And I have done this in my topic .I have selected only one significant aspect which is that advanced technology like Television, computers, mobile ,internet which are making glorious effect on English .And you can find this aspect in my whole topic .For further information, I have discussed on this topic with friends, classmate who are studying in the different faculties like Arts ,commerce, Management ,Science and also searched on internet , books and magazines .
The English language has been associated with migration since its first origins. The language came into being in 5th century with patterns of people movement and resettlement .This language was a humble beginning as a native language by the Anglo-Saxons around 10th century .However, as a world language its history began in the 17th century and the historical expansion of British historical expansion and philosophical coverage of English culture have resulted in making this language a medium of international interaction.
In the new century, there are now over 205 states represented in the UN. The 20th century process of decolonization created a force to establish new national languages. New words and ways of writing in English were developed .The language has continued to adapt itself swiftly to new circumstances and people. English has always been an evolving language and language contact has been an important force of variety of English language came in to existence such as Indian English, Singaporean English, African English and many more.
Now, the present state or by the end of 20th century, Britain had established the pre-conditions for English as a global language, communities of English speakers were settled around the world .The position of English in the today’s world is thus the joint out come of Britain’s colonial expansion and the more recent the rise of the superpower USA. There are three types of English speakers in today’s world. First language speakers (L1) are those whose first language is English –U.K, U.S.A, Canada and Australia. Second language (L2) speakers are those who are additional and the third group of English speakers are the growing number of people learning English as a foreign language. One kind of analysis is given by Braj Kachru and Indian – American linguist teaching in the U.S.A. He classifies the verities of English in the terms of three circles.
The ‘inner circle’ refers to the traditional bases of English where it is used as L1.The ‘outer circle’ shows the earlier phases of spread of English ( may be due to the establishment of colonies, trade etcetera) where the language is an important ‘second language’. The ‘Expanding circle’ involves those countries and areas where English is recognized as an important international language and is taught and learnt as a ‘foreign language’(FL).Because of the globalization ,there are different static entities advanced technology (internet, TV channels ,mobile etc),Population(youth),world economy, cultural flows, trade –business, tourism etc, the position of English is changed .In India ,English takes place in every field like office-institutions(official language),education(law ,science or post –graduation),communication(mobile, conferences, mail, fax)
Importance
We can see that once upon a time when few people and in few places, English was spoken but things are changed , now this time more and more people try to learn and know English language .Even countries like China and Japan-(business oriented ) are forced to use English. And in further, china has adopted a national policy to make every student literate in English by the year 2008.Singapore has also already declared English assists as a common language.
“According to the crystal, 85% of international organizations now use English as one of their working language”
So, these notes clearly reflect that the ‘English tsunami’ is lashing in every country, even in those countries like China-Japan which were not ready to accept the English language at first. Because of business-trade, commerce, science, advanced technology, shrinking of the world in to a global village etc area of communication is undergoing tremendous changes.
Role of English in Globalisation
In the Globalisation, we can see ‘the death of distance’ means a mere village has become a global village with advanced technology like (telecommunication, internet, mobile, TV channels etc), trade-business. Telecommunication technology has made English important instrument for communication. Telecommunication, internet, mobile etc have decreased the distance between country to country and person to person and also in time. So, the expansion of trade or business, culture became wide. Today, English has been shaped by the effects of the industrial revolution. English became the world’s language of discovery and invention and rapid advances also making in material science, engineering, manufacturing and communication –information technology, computer and mobile technology also required this language.
With the use or invention of these types’ new instruments, trade-business go beyond the border of the country .An increasing proportion of wealth is created process of wealth is created by trade-part of a general process of globalization now bringing world economics and culture in over closer union. There is a general rule of thumb; probably existing since the earliest days of international trading that selling must be carried out in the customer’s language and most countries aim to balance the value of import and export .International trade is complex. So, for all these processes not dialect language but link language like English is necessary for example: - China has huge industry with advanced technology. So, to spread them China has accepted English as a link language. (This same situation I have seen on Z-smile channel in programme of teleshoping .The programme was on English language learning –‘Guru English’ Indian private club. One business man gave his interview about his trade on international and added that he has starting English language with ‘Guru English’ because to spread his trade to international.)
In European , there is growing evidence that English has became the major business lingua franca .A study conducted in 1988 for the Danish Council of trade and industry reported that English is used by Danish companies in over 80% of communication in small and medium-sized business in peripheral areas of Europe-(Hagen,1993) found that although English is probably the most used language of business across Europe, German is used extensively in particular areas ,especially for informal communication.
-The Future of English?
David Graddol
To use new advanced technology, English became key language. For example: - Mobiles, computers, television, internet communication etc. In India, education field and society use computers, mobiles etc technology .English and computers have seemed to go to gather .Computers and the programmes, which make them useful, were largely the invention of English –speaking countries. The hardware and software wants the needs of the English language. The computer operators interacted with the programmes using instruction in English .The internet illustrates the way technologies have been conveying –television, telephone, music and new consumer technology, such as ‘multimedia computers’ and ‘Net TV’ bring the English language in homes ,schools and workshops. The internet, from its beginning as a tool for international communication between a global academic privileged, will increasingly serve local, cultural and commercial purposes .English is the medium for 80% of the information stored in the world’s computers .It is certainly true that growth of computer use and of the internet in particular –has been impressive in the last few years.
Instead of English and advanced technology like computers ,mobile, internet go with to gather, the students who learning with them, can get better jobs in other countries also. The impact of American English and its technology making English language rich because now a days America is very prosperous country than other and other country following it to its steps. America has growing fast in many field like advanced technology, education, trade-business, invention, research, training etc. For example :- To have better facilities with advanced technology and good training in education field, students of other countries go to America to get higher education and learn English language .(This same situation ,we can see in India ) .Instead of internet ,education field made wide. The students are studying with distance education. So, without less of the time and enrage. Students are getting higher education
Technology –English language in future
As we know that technology and English language going to gather .That thing, we can see at starting point when at the end of 17th century, theoreticians like Issac Newton were writing their discoveries in English rather than Latin .This information about English language is past. In the same way ,in 1876, the Western Union- a telegraph company –decided not to take up the patent on Bell’s telephone because they considered the device to be ‘inherently of no value to us “.Western Union were not ignore it but put it in business .Now we can see this telecommunication technology became an important part in the world. So, with use of more telecommunication and other technology, English has also take time to develop been implemented effects. Any technology which is to have significant social, economic and linguistic effects in the near future will be already known. In present state, these are new technologies like computer, internet, mobile etc. We operate computer and store information probable using English .In the same way in internet and mobile technology ,we give and take messages in English like ‘SMS language’ .If these technology will be changed during the next decades ,it will effect English .
Future of English
I would like to say that English on important toll for international communication .It simultaneously find that itself acting as a language of identify for longer numbers of people around the world.L1 speakers of English will soon form a minority group but the EFL (English as a foreign language) speakers will increase in numbers 100 million to 400 millions by the year 2050.Local communication, will encourage the use of a wider variety of English language. The indications are that English will enjoy a special position in the multilingual society of the 21 century: it will be the only language to appear in the language, mix in every part of the world .Satellite technology has been regarded as a major driver of global English .National networks which such as star TV, MTV, CNN in English speaking countries will continue to establish operation in other parts of the world. The quantity of internet and materials in languages other than English is set too expand dramatically in the next decade. Yesterday it was the world’s poor who were multilingual: tomorrow it will also be the global elite .So we must not be hypnotised by the fact that this elite will speak English: the more significant fact may be that, unlike the majority of present day native English speakers, they will also speak at least one other language-probably more fluently and with grater cultural loyalty.
Conclusion
