Why is English an international language? The rise of English as the main international language

English is the language of world communication. A language that unites millions of people around the world. Why English language considered international? Today we invite you to look into history and find the answer to this question.

How English Became International: Historical Background

Triumph of England. International trade - international language

English has not become an international language as quickly as it seems. It all started back in the 17th century, when England ceased to be a conquering country and became a conquering country, having been very successful in this matter. The English fleet was one of the most powerful in the world. All sea ​​routes were under the control of the British. Most of the land - half of the territory North America, many countries in Africa and Asia, Australia, India - was under the rule of the British crown.

The English language has penetrated all corners of the globe. At that time, the most important task for England was to establish trade relations. Naturally, the language of the dominant and more developed country overshadowed the local languages. It worked here Golden Rule- whoever has gold, he rules, he chooses what language to speak. England gave impetus to the birth of the world economy and the development of international relations in the XVIII century, it was English that was used for trade.

Even when the colonized countries gained independence, trade relations with Great Britain continued to develop, and the English language remained. Firstly, because the languages ​​of the conquered countries lacked the necessary words: there were no terms for trading. Secondly, because English has already taken root in this area and locals knew him well. Those who wanted to earn their own bread had to communicate in English.

Did the English-speaking races make it their rule to speak anything else than English, the marvelous progress of the English tongue throughout the world would stop.

If the English people recognized a language other than their own, then the triumphal procession of the latter would cease.

But why didn't English become the native language in the countries of Asia and Africa? Because the British did not move to these countries as massively as, for example, to America, and did not spread their language, their culture and their way of life. Great Britain introduced a system of government and education into the conquered countries. English was used in certain areas, but it was not the language of communication, the language of the people.

In India, the English language has taken root much more strongly than in many other countries. For 30% of Indians, English is their mother tongue. Although more than 400 languages ​​are spoken in India besides Hindi, only English is the second official language. You can read more about the features of the English language in India in the article "Indian English or Hinglish".

Rise of America

Another good reason that predetermined the use of English as international mother tongue, - the conquest of the New World, America. The British were not the only settlers. In addition to English, French, Spanish, German, and Dutch were spoken in America. At the beginning of the 20th century, the question of national unity arose sharply: something had to unite the country and the people who live in it. And the English language in this case acted as a link.

The United States had a strict policy of ousting languages, despite the fact that America does not have a single official language. Official documents were drawn up only in English. Many states banned education in all languages ​​other than English. This policy has borne fruit. If the American government did not force out other languages, then Dutch, Spanish or any other language could become the national one. Then and now we would not talk about English as an international language.

In the second half of the 20th century, England faded into the background, the era of America began. After the Second World War, most of the powers were preoccupied with the reconstruction of their countries. In turn, the United States suffered less than the rest and continued to develop in all directions: economic, diplomatic, political and military. The country was especially active in developing economic relations. America made right choice continuing the English tradition. American goods flooded all countries. Naturally, to carry out an economic transaction, one needs mutual language, and again this language became English. Why? Probably for the same reason as in the 17th century - whoever is stronger is right.

US influence has increased over time. But it is not enough just to win the championship, it is important to keep it. If in the 18th century trade played a key role for England, then America occupied its niche in history for other reasons:

1. The advent of the computer and the Internet

   It is beneficial for any country if its language is international. Being one of the most powerful countries in the world, America led the language policy in the direction of the globalization of its language. And the key role was played precisely by the fact that two inventions appeared in the United States, without which our life is unthinkable - the computer and the Internet. These means of instantaneous dissemination of information have greatly contributed to the globalization of the English language.

2. American lifestyle fashion

   In the second half of the 20th century, against the backdrop of post-war and dilapidated countries, the United States looked very attractive. The "American Dream" seemed to be an ideal, and people from different countries tried to somehow get closer to this ideal, and language is one of the ways to get closer. Films, music, youth movements came to us from across the ocean and brought with them the English-speaking culture.

Why is English the international language today?

1. English is the world language

Today, English has become the international language, it is the most widely spoken in the world. More than 400 million people speak English as their first language, 300 million use it as a second language, and another 500 million speak English to some extent.

2. English - the language of trade and business

In many countries, English occupies a very important place as the language of diplomacy, trade and business. 90% of global transactions are in English. World financial funds and exchanges operate in English. Financial giants and large corporations use English no matter what country they are in.

3. English is the language of education

English is the most popular foreign language in schools. The most prestigious universities in the world are English-speaking. In countries where English is the second state language, students prefer to study in English. Knowledge of English makes it possible to get a good education and build a successful career.

4. English is the language of travel

Large-scale travel of the British over the course of two centuries has borne fruit. In the 21st century, English is the language of travel. No matter what country you are in, you will be understood in English everywhere. , in a restaurant, at a bus stop, you can talk to the locals.

5. English is the language of science and technology

English has become language XXI centuries - centuries of technological progress and information technologies. Today, all instructions and programs for new gadgets are written in English. Scientific reports, articles, reports are published in English. 90% of Internet resources are in English. The vast majority of information in all areas - science, sports, news, entertainment - is published in English.

English has become a language youth culture. American actors, actresses, musicians have been and remain the idols of more than one generation of people. Hollywood today is the undisputed leader of the film industry. Cult American action films and blockbusters are watched in English all over the world. From America came jazz, blues, rock and roll and many more styles of music that are still popular today.

7. English is the universal language

In addition to all of the above, English is beautiful, melodic and easy to learn. English has one of the richest vocabulary in the world, but at the same time it has a simple grammar. Words themselves are attracted to each other, forming concise and understandable sentences. The international language should be simple and understandable to everyone. Perhaps we are very lucky that such a simple language has united the world. Read why English is easy to learn compared to other languages ​​in our article.

Which thorny path in a few centuries the language may pass! Today, we can confidently say that in the 21st century, English is the No. 1 international language. How long it will remain international is hard to say. But, definitely, this status will remain for more than a decade.

Mankind has always needed an international language. And once it was connected, first of all, with the need to conduct disputes on scientific and religious themes. But along with technological progress, the development of technology, an international language has become necessary, first of all, for the exchange of information.

ubiquity

More and more people are wondering why is English an international language? This is due, first of all, to its ubiquitous distribution. For many, this causes open dissatisfaction, because this is seen as a direct threat to the cultures of different countries. Many of their inhabitants feel that English invades their lives unceremoniously.

Usually, a language becomes widespread due to the technological breakthrough of the country for which it is native. For example, in the era of the development of shipbuilding, many languages, including Russian, included many specific terms from this area - “shipyard”, “barge”, “harbour”. Emperor Peter I himself was extremely dissatisfied with the use of foreign terms and demanded that new words be introduced only in case of emergency.

Continuing the search for an answer to the question of why English is an international language, it is also worth turning to the history of political contacts with France, which led to the widespread dissemination of French at one time. Political and cultural ties that took place in XVIII-XIX centuries, led to the appearance in the Russian language of a large number of new words, such as "boot", "poster", "garrison" and others. At that time, France was one of the military leaders, as well as a trendsetter - this explains the rapid spread French and the massive introduction of foreign vocabulary in other countries.

British colonization of other countries

Another reason why English has become an international language is the authority of the UK as a state. The state had a large number of colonies around the world. This contributed to the widespread dissemination of English in Asian and African countries. Willy-nilly, those peoples who were under her rule had to learn new words, read literature in English. Over time, Great Britain further strengthened its dominance. This gradually led to the widespread spread of the language.

Influence of other languages

Those who are interested in why English is an international language will probably also be interested in M. Lomonosov's position on the excessive use of foreign terms in Russian. Mikhail Vasilyevich wrote a special work to counter the dissolution of his native language in foreign lexical units - "Foreword on the benefits of church books." It is worth noting that in this era, the Russian language was influenced not only by French, but also by other languages ​​- for example, Italian. From it, such words as “opera”, “aria”, “tenor” migrated into our speech.

There are many objective reasons why English is an international language. One of the main ones is the invention of the computer in the United States and the further development of software. Considering the enormous significance these inventions have for the entire modern world, it becomes obvious that the spread of English in other countries is inevitable.

What is the basis of the widespread interest in the language

On the one hand, Russia has always been an opponent of the United States, but on the other hand, since the 1940s, on the territory of the then Soviet Union youth groups began to emerge, branded by the state as "fans of the West."

But what is characteristic of these subcultures (and what causes the greatest sadness) they have very little interest in the culture of England or the United States. It was not the works of Shakespeare or Dreiser that evoked their delight. And not at all the scientific research of Western researchers. This youth was more attracted not by the culture of the Western world, but by the mass market, unlimited consumption. These sentiments have existed until our time, and not only in the territory of the post-Soviet space. The spread of pop culture also explains why English is the international language.

Where are the most English speakers?

English speech can be heard in the most different countries peace. At the same time, it should be noted that this language is not the most common, and is inferior to Chinese in first place. In total, there are more than 80 English-speaking countries in the world - those in which English is recognized as the state language. Where are these states located?

• In Asia - for example, these are India, Pakistan, Philippines;
• In Africa - Tanzania, Sudan, Kenya;
• In America - Jamaica, Grenada, Barbados;
• In Oceania - Samoa, Solomon Islands.

Most of these states are former British colonies. And the influence of Great Britain was not only economic, but also cultural and scientific. In addition to these states, it is also worth highlighting the main ones besides the UK, these are Australia, Ireland, Canada, the USA, New Zealand.

Number of Anglophones in the world

Of course, English is most associated with countries such as America and Great Britain. It is also a popular second language in many countries. Total English-speaking population - 380 million people. In total, there are about a million language learners on the planet. English is a foreign language for 750 million people. But how many people speak English in total? The answer can be given as follows: every fifth person is able to speak this language to one degree or another.

It is also worth adding that about 80% of all sites on the Internet are also written in the language of the inhabitants Foggy Albion. For comparison, the next line of the rating is occupied by German and then Japanese.

The necessity of learning English in the modern world

English was able to gain international status due to its application in the business world. All industrial products must indicate the country of origin in English, for example: "Made in France". It is this language that transnational corporations have chosen for themselves.

Also English replaces European languages and in political sphere. It is the official language of organizations such as UNESCO or the UN. In addition, English is ubiquitous in cultural sphere. The youth of the whole planet loves the songs of Madonna, Michael Jackson, the Beatles.

Why is language needed?

English is necessary for both businessmen and those who love travelling. When relaxing, knowledge of a foreign language will be useful to everyone - for example, to make an order in a restaurant, to understand what the guide is talking about. Also, knowledge of the language of Foggy Albion will be useful for those who wanted to expand their professional knowledge by reading specialized literature in English. Those who just want to get acquainted with the culture of the country will enjoy reading art books. For example:

• Virginia Woolf "The Canterville Ghost";
• F. Scott Fitzgerald "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button";
• J. London "Steppenwolf";
• W. Shakespeare "King Lear".

Another indisputable advantage is the ability to expand your social circle. After all, now with the help of the Internet you can talk with a person from anywhere in the world - it is enough to know the language. English helps to find new friends, make life more interesting and varied.

Also, the one who owns a foreign language has more earning opportunities. Such a specialist can help with the translation, while earning money.

US policy at the beginning of the 20th century.

Another reason for the spread of English was the conquest of the New World. Initially, in addition to this language, Spanish, French, and Dutch were also common in America. But at the beginning of the last century, the question of state unity came to the fore in front of the country. Something had to serve as a unifying factor, and the language of Foggy Albion served as this link connecting different territories.

Now America is known as one of the main English speaking countries. She gained this status because at first in the States there was a rather tough policy towards other languages ​​- they were simply forced out. All official documentation was compiled only in English. And over time, this policy has yielded results. Many states prohibited teaching in languages ​​other than English. If the then American government did not force out other languages, then the official language of the United States could well have become Spanish, Dutch, or any other. And now hardly anyone would argue about the prevalence of English.

The fact that English is modern world- the main international language, no doubt. However, not everyone knows why this is so. After all, the formation of English as an international language is rooted in the distant past.

Historical background

The rise of the English language began in the 17th century, when Britain became a conquering country and the largest colonizer in the world. Since the British flotilla was one of the strongest in the world, the sea routes completely submitted to the British. The lands of North America, Asia, India and Africa were under the control of England. It was at that moment that the language of Great Britain began to turn into an international one.

The imperialism of the British crown continued for more than three centuries, during which England developed into a scientifically, culturally and technologically advanced state. In addition, England sought to develop economically. The creation of strong trade ties led to the fact that the language of a more successful country relegated local dialects to the background. Even when the former colonies became independent, many of them made English their official language. There were reasons for that. First of all, the languages ​​of the colonies did not always have the necessary words for successful trading. In addition, during the existence under the control of the British crown, the locals got used to the new language, knew it well and willingly used it in speech. It can be reasonably argued that English should have become the second official language in Asia and Africa as well. The fact is that the British moved to these countries less often and did not bring their traditions, lifestyle and, of course, language with them. It has been used in these regions to promote economic relations with Britain, but did not become the language familiar to the locals.

The rise of a superpower

Just at this time, America took over the baton and began its transformation into a superpower with the official English language. But the British were not the only ones who decided to conquer New World, and in the United States of America many dialects and dialects were spoken. Therefore, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the problem of unity of all citizens of the country arose. America needed a symbol to unite the people living in it. It's funny, but German almost became the official language of the states. French and Hebrew were also offered. But during the final vote, the English won by one vote!

From that moment on, a not too delicate policy of crowding out other languages ​​began to operate in the United States. Legal documents and teaching in schools were conducted exclusively in English. This practice has borne fruit. Otherwise, French or German could very well become the official language of the United States, as well as the international language of the world.

After the war, many countries were concerned about the revival of the economy, culture, social and other spheres of life. The states, although they suffered in World War II, were not as severe as other countries. They continued their development in diplomatic, military and economic terms. America chose the beaten track and followed the English path. Businessmen began to deliver goods to other countries, and a common language was needed to carry out transactions, which again turned out to be English. Why English again? America was a stronger and more influential country, so it could impose its choice.

Modern tendencies

It is important that today America continues to hold the leading position. The country has made a lot of efforts to popularize the native language, and the fact that the states invented the Internet and the computer played an important role. Today, most of the media publishes notes in English. On it you can find more than 60% of the materials on the network: movies, series, news, books, and so on.

The popularity of English is also associated with the fact that it is the language of business. Today England and the USA are the largest financial centers where the business life of many organizations is concentrated. For example, the London Stock Exchange accounts for about half of all stock trading, which involves firms from sixty countries. Due to the fact that English is used for work and communication, the multiculturalism of the exchange is considered an essential element in its promotion.

Thus, we can safely say that the English language has become international for historical and economic reasons. It is not clear whether this language will be as popular in the future, but the fact that today it has an official status in almost 60 states of the world, and is used in more than 100 countries, clearly indicates its leading position.

Today, in the world, several languages ​​​​have the greatest distribution - they are spoken in many countries and over vast territories. This is German, French, Spanish, Arabic and even Russian. However, only English among them takes the first place in distribution. It is a native or foreign language for a huge number of people on the planet. And there are several reasons for this.

Historical past

At all times, the conquering countries, conquering other cities and states, tried to instill in them their culture and language. So it was during the Roman Empire, which spread Latin to the entire coast of the conquered Mediterranean. The same thing happened in the era of British supremacy at sea. Spreading its influence further and further - from Malta and Egypt to the countries of America, Australia, New Zealand, Sudan, India - from the 17th century, Great Britain imposed its own rules on the conquered territories. So around the world, dozens of states arose whose native language was English.

In many of them, it later turned into a state one, this happened mainly in those territories that the British conquered from local savages, for example, in the USA, New Zealand, and Australia. In the same places where statehood had already been formed, or another country took an active role in the conquests, there were several official languages ​​- this happened in India and Canada. Now Great Britain is no longer considered the main colonial country, however, its historical and cultural heritage still lives in previously conquered states.

Globalization and economic power

The world is on the verge of globalization, distances are reduced due to fast transport, borders are becoming more open, people have the opportunity to travel around the world, do business in different countries, engage in world trade. All countries are somehow connected with each other, so they need a common means of communication - a single language. In the conditions of developing globalization, English is recognized as the most convenient language as an ideal one.

Its spread is also helped by the fact that, since the 19th century, the United States has taken up the policy of Great Britain in the economic and political aspect, and today they are conducting a rather tough conquest of the economic market and strengthening political influence in other countries. The language of the strongest country, as a rule, becomes the language of universal communication.

Ease of communication

English is the mother tongue of over 400 million people and a foreign language of over 1 billion people on the planet. The number of English learners is constantly growing. In addition, this particular language is relatively simple, which makes it convenient for quick learning and, of course, this also contributes to its mass distribution. Today, only the British themselves allow themselves not to actively study a foreign language at school or university, because everyone around them knows English. For the inhabitants of other countries, such neglect is not typical - they begin to learn languages ​​from the very beginning. younger age, sometimes with kindergarten and first grade school.