« How English has it become the most spoken language in the world ? »
" 500 years ago, English was spoken by 5-7000000 people, mainly in the British Isles. Today, nearly 1.8 billion people speak English in the world.
How to explain this?
The spread of English has nothing to do with its grammatical structure or linguistic characteristics. Everything is a matter of policy and history.
The British Empire
English already prospered for almost a millennium in the British Isles when the sailors, pilgrims, merchants and missionaries of the United propagated around the globe. Even before a semblance of language policy was not implemented, the English had already toured the world.
Note however that the settlers who landed on the east coast of the United States were not all English speakers: the New World, also spoke good English, as Spanish, French, Dutch or German. All these languages gained in importance over the following centuries, with the various waves of immigration from Europe. Later, when the founding fathers of the United States wanted to unite the states, they soon realized the importance of language in the national identity. As English is the majority language, it was encouraged. The first steps in this direction were taken only in the early 20th century, with the ban in several states, to teach foreign languages in private schools and at home. As for the US Supreme Court, she waited 1923 impose restrictions on language courses in the private sector.
Today, English is not recognized official language in the United States, but there is no doubt that it is, in fact, the dominant language.
The United States were not the only ones to welcome with open arms English. In early 20èmesiècle, the British Empire represented nearly a quarter of the surface of the planet (excluding the US). According to a popular saying of the time, "the sun never set on the British Empire".
If the sun sets again the Empire, the English language still occupies an important place in all former British colonies.
English in former colonies
In most countries of the British Empire, the goal was primarily to do business, not to settle. That's why English has never won in Africa and Asia: it was the language of business, administration and education, but not the language of the people.
The English language has preserved an important role in the administration of these former colonies to date. For a long time, English speaking provided access to education, whether in African schools in the first mission or Indian universities. Thus, an English-speaking elite has emerged in some of the most populous countries in the world. And as everyone knows, the elites are equipped for self-preservation.
After independence, many countries became multilingual officially for the first time. But their different communities needed a language to communicate among themselves and with other nations. Naturally, they chose English. Direct legacy of the British Empire, English is now the dominant or official language of 75 territories around the world.
In countries where large settlements were formed, such as Australia, Canada or the United States, indigenous languages and cultures are found almost entirely crowded out by English.
English is not the first language of European colonialism; Portuguese and Dutch have left the old continent first. As recently as the 19th century, the French, not English, was still the first international vehicular language. How is to the English supremacy thus imposed throughout the world?
Without the rise of the United States in the 20th century, the global linguistic landscape would be very different today.
The two world wars and the rise of the United States
In 1945, while Europe was occupied rebuild, the United States experienced an economic boom. US companies were inspired by the methods of the East India Company, conveying English as an international language of commerce. With the power of the US economy and the influence of English in the former British colonies, the English language has become the first language of the business sector. Today, most business schools around the world offer their programs in English.
Today, English is the most spoken foreign language in 19 of the 25 member countries of the EU where there is no official language. In six states where English is not in first place, it is a national political will."
How to explain this?
The spread of English has nothing to do with its grammatical structure or linguistic characteristics. Everything is a matter of policy and history.
The British Empire
English already prospered for almost a millennium in the British Isles when the sailors, pilgrims, merchants and missionaries of the United propagated around the globe. Even before a semblance of language policy was not implemented, the English had already toured the world.
Note however that the settlers who landed on the east coast of the United States were not all English speakers: the New World, also spoke good English, as Spanish, French, Dutch or German. All these languages gained in importance over the following centuries, with the various waves of immigration from Europe. Later, when the founding fathers of the United States wanted to unite the states, they soon realized the importance of language in the national identity. As English is the majority language, it was encouraged. The first steps in this direction were taken only in the early 20th century, with the ban in several states, to teach foreign languages in private schools and at home. As for the US Supreme Court, she waited 1923 impose restrictions on language courses in the private sector.
Today, English is not recognized official language in the United States, but there is no doubt that it is, in fact, the dominant language.
The United States were not the only ones to welcome with open arms English. In early 20èmesiècle, the British Empire represented nearly a quarter of the surface of the planet (excluding the US). According to a popular saying of the time, "the sun never set on the British Empire".
If the sun sets again the Empire, the English language still occupies an important place in all former British colonies.
English in former colonies
In most countries of the British Empire, the goal was primarily to do business, not to settle. That's why English has never won in Africa and Asia: it was the language of business, administration and education, but not the language of the people.
The English language has preserved an important role in the administration of these former colonies to date. For a long time, English speaking provided access to education, whether in African schools in the first mission or Indian universities. Thus, an English-speaking elite has emerged in some of the most populous countries in the world. And as everyone knows, the elites are equipped for self-preservation.
After independence, many countries became multilingual officially for the first time. But their different communities needed a language to communicate among themselves and with other nations. Naturally, they chose English. Direct legacy of the British Empire, English is now the dominant or official language of 75 territories around the world.
In countries where large settlements were formed, such as Australia, Canada or the United States, indigenous languages and cultures are found almost entirely crowded out by English.
English is not the first language of European colonialism; Portuguese and Dutch have left the old continent first. As recently as the 19th century, the French, not English, was still the first international vehicular language. How is to the English supremacy thus imposed throughout the world?
Without the rise of the United States in the 20th century, the global linguistic landscape would be very different today.
The two world wars and the rise of the United States
In 1945, while Europe was occupied rebuild, the United States experienced an economic boom. US companies were inspired by the methods of the East India Company, conveying English as an international language of commerce. With the power of the US economy and the influence of English in the former British colonies, the English language has become the first language of the business sector. Today, most business schools around the world offer their programs in English.
Today, English is the most spoken foreign language in 19 of the 25 member countries of the EU where there is no official language. In six states where English is not in first place, it is a national political will."
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