It's so true that communication is a key part of our lives, isn't it? Whether it's in business, medicine, science, technology, commerce or marketing, it's always there, playing a central role. English is a language that's loved and spoken all over the globe. English has a huge impact on our lives, in so many different ways. It's so great to see that nowadays, many international companies require their employees to have a good level of English. And it's wonderful that more and more people are starting to learn English! It's incredible to think that there are more than 400 million people in the world who speak English as a first language and about 700 million people who speak English as a second language! It's clear that English is now having a significant impact on our lives. But why exactly has English managed to gain such popularity and become the world's language of communication?
1. Globalization of English
1.1 What is a global language?
A global language is one that's famous and recognisable all over the world. A language gets this status because of the influence of people with political, military or economic power. One of the things that makes a language global is power.
Why do we need an international language? As migration and cultural mixing continue to grow, having a reliable system for international communication is more important than ever. English started to spread during the British Empire, which controlled not only the seas but also a significant part of the landmass in the 19th and 20th centuries. By the middle of the 20th century, English had become the language of the United States, a superpower that sets the global agenda. The number and scope of international organisations such as the UN, UNESCO, WTO and WHO are constantly growing. Using a single language (instead of two, three or five as in the UN) will significantly reduce their costs for translators. Some say up to 50% of the UN budget is spent on translating documents. With the global economy growing, there are more and more international manufacturing and trading companies, as well as joint ventures and other business concerns.
There's still some debate about whether we need a global language. For a long time now, translation from one language to another has been a key part of communication between different countries. When ambassadors or monarchs are in negotiations, they always have an interpreter there. However, there are still some limitations to what they can do. In countries where two or three languages are spoken, this solves the problem. But in countries where there are lots of different languages, this approach isn't possible. In the past, one common language, known as a 'lingua franca' (which is French for a language or dialect used for communication between people whose mother tongues are other languages), has been used as a solution. The 'lingua franca' was used for inter-ethnic communication.
As people from different countries are getting to know each other better, there's a growing need for an international language. Being able to interact internationally and interculturally when dealing with global issues is not just important, but essential.
1.2 How did English become an international language?
English became a global language in the 17th century when England had many colonies around the world. The British Empire controlled almost all sea routes and a large part of the world, including North America, Africa, Asia, Australia and India.
The English language spread around the world. The country wanted to create trade relations. Local languages were replaced by English. In this case, the golden rule of negotiation – 'he who has the gold makes the rules' – was followed. England was important in developing international relations and the global economy. The English language was used in trade. Even after countries gained independence, the English language was not changed as it was already established and covered a wide range of trade aspects. Local languages had a smaller vocabulary and lacked the necessary terms. Those who sought employment and a good life were bound to become proficient in English. The discovery of the New World also favoured the use of English as an international language.
Many immigrants came to the United States from other countries. They spoke different languages, like German, French, Spanish, and Dutch. This made the issue of national unity a big problem in the early 1900s. English was the link that united the country and its people. The United States had no official language, but English was the only language allowed. Many states only used English in official documents and education. Other languages were banned. The American government's actions meant the world language was considered other than English. In the second half of the 20th century, the United States grew quickly and became more powerful than England. It continued to grow in all fields, including economics, politics, diplomacy, and the military.
America achieved great success in economic relations. Americans continued the English tradition of trade, and soon goods from America began to be shipped to all countries. Of course, successful interaction requires communication in one language. As we all know, this language became English for the same reason that it did in the 17th century. Today, English is known practically all over the world, penetrating into all spheres of society.
1.3 International Relations
English is the official language at all the leading international political gatherings held in all regions of the world. These include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. English is the official and working language of the United Nations. All kinds of summits and meetings of heads of state, signing of laws and decrees, negotiations and debates are conducted in English.
English is the only language used by the European Free Trade Association. Despite the limited number of members of the organisation who prefer English as a 'common language', even small companies recognise the importance of English. They may not be able to write minutes in English, but they issue reports to a wide audience after a meeting and make statements to the world's media in English.
People have long underestimated the role of English in international relations. In the mid-1990s, 85% of international organisations used English as their official language. French was used by about 49% of the organisations. Some organisations only work in English. This is especially true in the Asia-Pacific region, where about 90% of international organisations operate in English only. Some scientific organisations, including the African Association of Science Editors and the Cairo Demographic Centre, only operate in English. Only a small number of international communities (13%) do not use English at all. These are mainly French organisations dealing with French-speaking countries. But English is used in many other areas too. Some international sports organisations also function exclusively in English. For example, the African Ice Hockey Federation, the Asian Amateur Athletic Association and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Oceania. When these organisations hold international competitions, English is the language used by all participants.
2. How English has influenced global culture.
2.1 How English is used in mass media.
In the late 20th and early 21st century, mass communication and new information technologies have seen some pretty rapid progress. The mass media we already knew about, like print, radio, and TV, as well as the new Internet, were all part of one big information space. This was a special virtual environment made up of lots of different media streams.
The unified system also needed a single language. Nowadays, English has a huge influence on world culture through mass media.
The English language and culture have a significant impact on international media today. There are more English-language media texts being shared daily through channels than there are texts in other languages. You can see English-language mass culture spreading in the national media of almost all countries.
The English language also plays an important role in modern music. The majority of songs, including those that have achieved a degree of enduring popularity, are composed in or derived from the English language. This is due to the fact that the music industry is centred in America and Europe, where English is the official language. The ease with which English lends itself to rhyme and melody is a significant factor in its popularity as a compositional language. This is evidenced by the use of English by Russian performers in their compositions.
In the context of contemporary globalised communication, the ability to communicate in English, which serves as an intermediary language or lingua franca, is of significant importance. This assertion is corroborated by studies conducted in the field of musical discourse, wherein English is identified as a global language of music. British linguist David Crystal underscores the pervasive influence of English-language music on contemporary popular culture, citing evidence of its dominance in the context of international music projects, lyrics, television shows, and other forms of musical expression.
Song lyrics sung in this language undeniably promote English worldwide. They are a sure-fire way of attracting the public's attention and are an essential ingredient in a performer's commercial success and prestige. The official website of the annual international song contest Eurovision confirms that over the last decade, the vast majority of songs have been sung in English. In 1982, just three songs were performed in this language. In 2011, only three songs were performed in languages other than English. From 1992 to 2012, every winning song was sung in English. The only exception was 2007, when the first place winner was a Serbian language song. There's no doubt about it: bands and performers who have gained worldwide recognition through the use of English include ABBA from Sweden, Scorpions from Germany and A-Ha from Norway. It's a simple fact that performers who do not speak English are doomed to fail on a global level in the context of commercialised popular culture, as their work will, in most cases, go unnoticed.
2.2 The impact of English on education.
English is an indispensable tool in education, particularly in the fields of science and technology, where a vast amount of knowledge is presented in English. Access to knowledge is inextricably linked to education. It is therefore unsurprising that many countries make English an official language and choose it as the main foreign language taught in schools.
Since the 1960s, English has indisputably become a popular medium of instruction in higher education, even in countries where it is not official. Some advanced courses in the Netherlands are taught in English. The need to use English is increasing as more colleges and universities accept international students and teachers face multilingual audiences. There is no doubt that the use of English for subjects is widely used. Studies conducted in 1980 showed that 85% of biology and physics papers, 73% of medical articles, and 69-75% of mathematics and physics papers were written in English. This trend is only increasing over time.
The English language teaching market is booming. Every year, more and more schools are opening to teach English. It is one of the fastest growing fields in the world. The global English language learning market will grow from US$39.98 billion in 2023 to US$77.90 billion by 2030. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 10% during the forecast period.
The English Language Learning (ELL) market is a dynamic and vast industry that offers educational resources and services to people who want to master English. This market caters to a wide range of customers, from students pursuing academic goals in English-speaking institutions to non-native speakers wishing to improve their communication skills for personal and professional reasons. Language education platforms and institutions offering a wide range of courses, programmes and materials designed to teach English at different levels of proficiency are the key players in the English language learning market. These resources often cover vocabulary, grammar, speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
Furthermore, new technologies, including mobile apps, online platforms and virtual classrooms, have transformed the way English is taught. They provide learners with easily accessible resources to improve their language skills. The market is driven by the need for English proficiency worldwide. There is no question that English is the language of choice for academics, international business and communication. Effective English language skills are a necessity in today's world. With travel becoming more accessible and business becoming more globalised, a wide range of learning options are now available to meet the needs and schedules of students around the world. These options include online self-study courses and traditional classroom learning. The English language learning market is also characterised by the constant evolution of learning strategies and content delivery.
3. The importance of the English language to teenagers.
There is no doubt that learning English is attracting more and more attention today. It is clear that today's young people understand the importance of learning English. They want to communicate on social networks, travel abroad and study at universities and higher education institutions abroad. It is clear that motivation to learn English is growing every year.
The English language plays a huge role in the modern world. About a billion people around the globe speak it. Most employers insist on a certain level of English proficiency when hiring. After yet another confirmation of how much English has influenced all aspects of life, I knew I had to find out how important English is among my peers.
As part of my research, I conducted a survey called 'The importance of English in the lives of adolescents'. The main purpose of the survey was to find out why people learn a language and what they think about it. Fifty-six respondents aged 14-17 years old who are studying in school took part in the survey. The survey participants were asked four multiple-choice questions. At the end of the survey, I got the following results:
1. Do you study English outside school?
41 people (73.2%) said yes
15 people (26.8%) said no.
2. Why do you learn English?
For better communication when travelling – 14 people – 25%
I don't learn English – 12 people – 21.4%
For self-development – 9 people – 16.1%
To enter a university for a speciality that requires English – 8 people – 14.3%
To enter a foreign university/move abroad – 8 people – 14.3%
At the wish of parents – 5 people – 8.9%
3. Do you think it's important to study English?
50 people (89.3%) said that learning English is necessary because it is widely used in the world.
6 people (10.7%) said that we can do without it.
4. What grade are you in?
8th grade – 13 people – 23.2%
9th grade – 21 people – 37.5%
10th grade – 22 people – 39.3%
Conclusion:
While English helps us to communicate, we must also respect other languages and cultures to understand each other better. Adolescents learn English to improve communication, for self-development, to enter a college major that requires English, and for the possibility of enrolling in a foreign university or moving abroad. This shows that adolescents know English is important in today's world and that being good at English can help them in their personal and professional lives. We must also value and respect other languages and cultures to preserve cultural diversity and achieve harmonious interaction in a globalised world. This is due to the growth of international connections and opportunities for education and work abroad, as well as adolescents' realisation of the advantages they gain by speaking English. Multilingualism and intercultural communication play an important role in preserving cultural diversity and strengthening ties between countries and peoples. As the world becomes more globalised, the need to speak English is growing. Learning English can help people to develop personally and professionally. Science and technology are making English an important subject in schools and higher education. It also learns about other cultures and languages, which makes the world more diverse. But it is also affected by other languages and cultures, which makes world culture rich and diverse. The English language learning market provides resources and services for people who want to improve their communication skills. English is used in many media texts and is an important part of world culture and media. It is becoming more accessible and diverse, which is good for business. It is used in many different areas of life, helping people from different cultures to understand each other better. It is the main way of communicating in international politics, business, science and culture. In today's world, English is an essential skill for interacting with people from other cultures. More and more schools and other places of learning are offering English courses. English is important for teenagers today. With mobile apps and online platforms, students can learn anywhere. English helps people learn new things and get better jobs. But we should also remember other languages and cultures. There is no doubt that effective command of English is a key factor in success, both in academic and professional contexts. These data prove that teenagers are committed to learning English and that their interest in it remains constant over several years. It is clear from the statistics that English is used widely in international organisations and is of great importance in different regions of the world. There is no doubt that knowledge of English provides people with great opportunities for development and success in the international arena. It is chosen as an official foreign language and is used for academic subjects. English has become the language of international communication and the standard of communication in the global media sphere. It facilitates decision making, networking and agreements between different countries and organisations. There is no question that English deserves its status as an international language.
