Global Language I. WHAT? Learned and spoken internationally 【T1】______:【T1】______ - the number of native and second lang

Global Language
Good morning, everyone. Today, we are going to discuss the status of global language. Particularly, I will address four questions. What is a global language? Why is a global language needed? Is a global language necessarily a good thing? And is English a global language?
First of all, what is a global language? There is no official definition of "global" or "world" language, but it essentially refers to a language that is learned and spoken internationally,[1]and is characterized not only by the number of its native and second language speakers,[2]but also by its geographical distribution,[3]and its use in international organizations and in diplomatic relations. A global language acts as a lingua franca, a common language that enables people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities to communicate on a more or less equitable basis. Historically, the essential factor for the establishment of a global language is that it is spoken by those who wield power.[4]Latin was the lingua franca of its time, although it was only ever a minority language within the Roman Empire as a whole. Crucially, though, it was the language of the powerful leaders and administrators and of the Roman military and this is what drove its rise to arguably global language status. Thus, language can be said to have no independent existence of its own, and a particular language only dominates when its speakers dominate and, by extension, fails when the people who speak it fail. History shows us that a language becomes a global language mainly due to the political power of its native speakers, and the economic power with which it is able to maintain and expand its position.
Secondly, why is a global language needed?[5]It is often argued that the modern global village needs a global language and that, particularly in a world of modern communications,[6]globalized trade and easy international travel, a single lingua franca has never been more important With the advent of large international bodies such as the United Nations and its various offshoots as well as collective organizations such as the Commonwealth and the European Union, the pressure to establish a worldwide lingua franca has never been greater. As just one example of why a lingua franca is useful, consider that up to one-third of the administration costs of the European Community are taken up by translations into the various member languages.
Thirdly, is a global language necessarily a good thing? While its advantages are self-evident, there are some legitimate concerns that a dominant global language could also have some built-in drawbacks. Among these may be the following:
Number one, there is a risk that the increased adoption of a global language may lead to the weakening and eventually the disappearance of some minority languages. It is estimated that up to 80% of the world’s 6,000 or so living languages may die out within the next century, and some commentators believe that a too-dominant global language may be a major contributing factor in this trend.[7]However, it seems likely that this is really only a direct threat in areas where the global language is the natural first language. Conversely, there is also some evidence that the very threat of subjugation by a dominant language can actually galvanize and strengthen movements to support[8]and protect minority languages e.g. Welsh in Wales, French in Canada
Number two,[9]there is concern that natural speakers of the global language may be at an unfair advantage over those who are operating in their second, or even third, language.
Number three,[10]the insistence on one language to the exclusion of others may also be seen as a threat to the ideas of multiculturalism.
Number four, another potential pitfall is linguistic complacency on the part of natural speakers of a global language, a laziness and arrogance resulting from the lack of motivation to learn other languages. Arguably, this can already be observed in many Britons and Americans.
Finally, is English a global language? As can be seen in more detail in the section on English today, on almost any basis, English is the nearest thing there has ever been to a global language. Its worldwide reach is much greater than anything achieved historically by Latin or French, and there has never been a language as widely spoken as English.[11]Many would reasonably claim that, in the fields of business, academics, science, computing, education, transportation, politics and entertainment, English is already established as the de facto lingua franca. The UN, the nearest thing we have, or have ever had, to a global community, currently uses five official languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese, and an estimated 85% of international organizations have English as at least one of their official languages.[12]Even more starkly, though, about one third of international organizations use English only,[13]and this figure rises to almost 90% among Asian international organizations. As we have seen, a global language arises mainly due to the political and economic power of its native speakers.[14]It was British imperial and industrial power that sent English around the globe between the 17th and 20th Centuries. The legacy of British imperialism has left many countries with the language thoroughly institutionalized in their courts, parliament, civil service, schools and higher education establishments. In other countries, English provides a neutral means of communication between different ethnic groups.[15]But it has been largely American economic and cultural supremacy that has consolidated the position of the English language and continues to maintain it today. American dominance and influence worldwide makes English crucially important for developing international markets, especially in the areas of tourism and advertising, and mastery of English also provides access to scientific, technological and academic resources which would otherwise be denied developing countries.
OK. I have given you a brief account of the definition of global language, the necessity and drawbacks of having a global language and finally English status in the global communication. Next time, we shall examine the role of English plays in the cultural communication.