Global English
English Language: AQA A Level, topic 3.6.8
Global English
English has become a global language. In a recent poll by the Guardian, it was voted as the world’s favourite language.
The spread
- There are over 30 countries where there are over 1 million speakers of English living there.
- We’re not sure how many speakers of English there are, but David Crystal’s best estimate lies at around 2 billion, with around 400 million native speakers.
Crystal
- Crystal says that globally, countries have adopted it and have started adapting it to fit their own uses and that everywhere in the world there is a new variety of English growing.
- There are different ways of categorising speakers of English. The most important ones you should know are:
Categorising English speakers
- ESOL – English as a Second or Other Language.
- L1 – English as a first language (native).
- L2 – English as a second language (official language of the country).
- EFL – English as a foreign language.
- ELF – English as a lingua franca (used as a compromise language).
Empire
- There are two reasons for the spread of English, the first being the rise of the British Empire.
- The Empire started as migration to America, New Zealand and Australia but expanded into trade relationships with Africa and Asia until the British Empire had colonised huge swathes of the world.
- The widespread use of slaves is also due to Empire.
America
- The second reason for the spread and dominance of English is America...