In her essay titled “What Global Language?” Barbara Wallraff says, “Whenever we turn on the news to find out what’s happening…anyplace, local people are being interviewed and telling us about it in English” (par. 2). Today when I was watching the news broadcast on the earthquake in Japan, a Japanese man visiting California was interviewed and spoke in perfect English. No one can deny that English is a global language. English is being learned and spoken by people from all over the world and this will have some effect on the development of English.
Language is constantly evolving. The common way to speak hundreds of years ago is demonstrated in Shakespeare plays and in the Old King James version of the Bible, but reading these now is difficult because the English language has evolved. People are often afraid of change but life is about change, if babies did not change by growing we would not be here today. In reading the different essays in chapter 3 of Exploring Language, many of the writers expressed concern (theirs or others) about the way that English is changing due to globalization.
In paragraph 38 of her essay, Wallraff says, “More and more people who speak English speak another language at least as well, and probably better…This is bound to affect the way the language is used locally.” Wallraff is referring to people who speak English as a second language. In countries where English is spoken as the business language, the locals still communicate with each other primarily in their native tongue. My friend went to Costa Rica for four months to learn Spanish. While she did succeed in learning Spanish fairly fluently, she mainly speaks English and only speaks Spanish when she must. Because English is still her main form of communication, she does not contribute to much change of the Spanish language. In a similar way, when English is only used for business, I do not think that it will evolve at an alarming rate. When English is used around the world for business communication, it must be basically the same for clear and proper communication. I think that the globalization of English will have less impact on the language than the regional evolution of English.
English is noticeably different in different regions of native English speakers. While living in Kauai I noticed that English was spoken differently. Pigeon is spoken by many of the locals and its phrases has joined with English (which is interesting since Pigeon is a combination of English and other languages spoken by earlier people). Not only are pigeon phrases spoken, but Hawaiian words are commonly used in the local language as well. When I visited Wales I noticed not only the obvious difference of spoken English by accents, but there were words and phrases used in England that I had never heard of before. A simple example is that when I wanted chips from a restaurant I received French fries.
English differs greatly from country to country and even from different areas in a country, but this gives each place more culture and gives a traveler one more cultural difference to appreciate. I do not think that the evolution of English is something to be worried about, the changing of our language is what makes it alive.
Language is constantly evolving. The common way to speak hundreds of years ago is demonstrated in Shakespeare plays and in the Old King James version of the Bible, but reading these now is difficult because the English language has evolved. People are often afraid of change but life is about change, if babies did not change by growing we would not be here today. In reading the different essays in chapter 3 of Exploring Language, many of the writers expressed concern (theirs or others) about the way that English is changing due to globalization.
In paragraph 38 of her essay, Wallraff says, “More and more people who speak English speak another language at least as well, and probably better…This is bound to affect the way the language is used locally.” Wallraff is referring to people who speak English as a second language. In countries where English is spoken as the business language, the locals still communicate with each other primarily in their native tongue. My friend went to Costa Rica for four months to learn Spanish. While she did succeed in learning Spanish fairly fluently, she mainly speaks English and only speaks Spanish when she must. Because English is still her main form of communication, she does not contribute to much change of the Spanish language. In a similar way, when English is only used for business, I do not think that it will evolve at an alarming rate. When English is used around the world for business communication, it must be basically the same for clear and proper communication. I think that the globalization of English will have less impact on the language than the regional evolution of English.
English is noticeably different in different regions of native English speakers. While living in Kauai I noticed that English was spoken differently. Pigeon is spoken by many of the locals and its phrases has joined with English (which is interesting since Pigeon is a combination of English and other languages spoken by earlier people). Not only are pigeon phrases spoken, but Hawaiian words are commonly used in the local language as well. When I visited Wales I noticed not only the obvious difference of spoken English by accents, but there were words and phrases used in England that I had never heard of before. A simple example is that when I wanted chips from a restaurant I received French fries.
English differs greatly from country to country and even from different areas in a country, but this gives each place more culture and gives a traveler one more cultural difference to appreciate. I do not think that the evolution of English is something to be worried about, the changing of our language is what makes it alive.
Like your friend, I too only speak Spanish for business related reasons. I do not have a need to speak Spanish outside of work, so it is rarely used in my time off. I do not think I will be speaking solely Spanish anytime soon. Your explanation was very clear, and the fact that I too speak Spanish as a second language solidified your discussion in my mind. Thinking about the globalization of English from the point of view of an English speaker with the secondary language being Spanish made me relate, and understand that maybe the globalization of English will not grow rapidly, after all I don’t use Spanish all the time.
ReplyDeleteYour personal experiences of encountering the alteration of English made your blog very interesting. I have lived in many places in my life, and I also know that the English language can be shaped into a work of art. This work of art is something that people travel long and far to come and see, or hear. The variations of English are interesting, and sometimes we even pick up small sayings from how other people alter English. For example, when I was living in what was considered the ghetto of Los Angles, I picked up a lot of slang, which could be considered an alteration of English. The ghettos have culture too, just not so sophisticated.
I think you expressed these essay so well! I was thinking the same thing while watching the new about Japan and the Tsunami. The funny thing that came to me is that I never noticed before!
ReplyDeleteWhy do we never hear our president address another country in a different language? How often have we heard other presidents use English? Granted it's not always perfect English but it is enough for them to get thier point accross.
I agree with your other statement about how language has been evolving for a long time now. Although it is a little scary to think where its going sometimes:) I think even as it evolves with the culture around us I will always remain a beautiful language. There will always be scholars in the sciences, writers of great novelss to keep the standard high. But there is nothing wrong with adaptation to allow the language to be used in a multicultural nation.
There is noone that needs to feel offended or slighted because the official language is English and there isn't anything they can do anyway. I wouldn't care what language they chose, I would learn it if that meant that I would understand what is going on aroung me.
Let me start off by saying I really enjoy your writing style. You make it so easy to comprehend the message you are trying to convey. The example of the earthquake crisis in Japan was a perfect example and something your audience can make an immediate connection with. There really is no doubt that the English language is becoming more and more dominant, Naturally. The Japanese man that was interviewed really is a great example. I feel that even though America is a country that advocates diversity and change, we are the most fearful of change. We as a nation are not forced to learn another language. The learning of a foreign language can sometimes be a requirement in high school to encourage people however, there are ways around it and the required time taking the course does not enable you to become fluent in the language. America is not used to adhering to other countries where as other countries are requiring and teaching young children the English language to adhere to us. We are fearful of change where other countries are not because they no, no different. I agree with you, we should embrace the change because it does allow for our language to be more culturally accepted.
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