03. How did English become so important?

Lecture in a course on variation in English.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Language
• Humanities
• English
• language
• postcolonialism
• Anthony
• Pym

[AnthionyPym]

Yes, I broadly agree with what you are saying. I agree that a lack of regulation has worked to the relative advantage of English, although this is just one factor among many.

[McGigi666]

And that's why spanish education system is the lowest in EU...

[AnthionyPym]

You mean, because the video is so bad?

[AnthionyPym]

"West Africa" should obviously be "East Africa", for the location of Swahili. Sorry about that. Best to all, Anthony.

[corneliuscaftan]

I think you may misunderstand my previous comment: English is certainly not the most 'efficient' or indeed 'logical' of languages, but partly because it was formed by diversity and been allowed to diversify it has always been adaptable and applicable, as opposed to say French (or at least the Academie's version) which has tried to insulate itself from outside influence by setting rules for its use. Contrast this with Spanish and its 425 million speakers. Perhaps we are not all that logical?

[Interculturality]

If this were true, then the whole range of English would be used in non-native situations. I don't think that is the case. International English in L2 websites, for instance, is pretty basic. Worse, the spelling system of English is illogical and the morphosyntax is hybrid. Linguistically, English has little reason to be efficient or attractive anywhere.

[corneliuscaftan]

I put it to you that English became the lingua franca mainly because of its range of expression and levels of diction and therefore applicability to a wider range of cultures and situations. Its formation by waves of invasion and occupation meant that the language itself grew out of a need for transcultural communication on all levels. The result is a highly dynamic language in that it allows for diversity whilst establishing a norms for communication which is how we interact as human beings.

[thrashing666mainiac]

that's because we fucking dominated the whole world lol

[fuckingpillock]

Don't be so sure about the rise of China, I'd put India before them, and guess which language THEY use as a lingua franca? That's right, ENGLISH!

China seems strong now, but has many, many problems facing it. Time will tell, but I don't see it happening.

[McGigi666]

@sellammar - how about the barbaric berberic people or barbaric arab people? french, my love, is a germanic-latin language. the background of french is latin, but the language in its gramatical self is germanic - the celts were the real germans.

[sellammar]

I think French or Latin should be the lingua franca. Becuse they sound so beautiful and were spoken by civilized and true Romans. English is a Germanic language and I dont like Germanic people or their languages. It makes me think of Barbaric Anglo-Saxons and Barbaric Vikings and not to mention Barbaric Germans. I get chills down my spine. Maybe Italian could be an alternative they are the true Romans

[McGigi666]

yea, and the chinese will be the new english. hehe, not. english is the easiest language to learn because of the showbiz system, my friend. it is very easy to learn expressions and words from songs and movies. but it's no wonder why you are such a moronic character and jump to the easiest conclusion: as i said, the spanish educational system is the lowest in EU.

all i said in my previous comments was an expression of sympathy for the guy with the speech.

[drsimi776]

Don´t be such an idiot. English became so important just because after the British empire became another english speaking empire, the American Empire. If after the english empire another non-english empire had become prevalent then english wouldn´t have been so important. Simple as that. Now with the decadence of the american empire and the emergence of China the years of english as the most important language are numbered. It will take long, perhaps one hundred years, but it will happen.