A Linguistic Empire

            The British Empire still stretches to every continent. Well, at least in theory. The magnitude and increase of globalization has re-created a common language. English has now become the language of the world, and this is purely attributed to the fact that Western cultures are more powerful. The United States, a descendant of Great Britain’s original power, has developed quickly and efficiently as the world’s superpower. Corporations now have the ability to establish businesses and network internationally. This automatically creates a communication barrier; one that has already been exposed and decimated. Other countries’ eagerness to communicate and work with American organizations has created an eagerness to learn English. And this starts at a young age. Many countries have its children learn English in their formal education. It is required.

            Using English as a primary language in foreign countries, though, could result in the loss of many languages worldwide. Politically and economically, this could be a positive occurrence. By having an international language, the ability to communicate and earn profit becomes much easier. Messages can be clearly received and interpreted more effectively. On the other hand, though, our world loses diversity and people lose the ability to be diverse. Once language is lost in a culture, other traditions fade and eventually an entire culture is lost. For me, the ability to be compassionate and understanding of diversity is lost as well. Anyone who does not use English as a primary language could eventually be outcastes. Like race and ethnicity is used to marginalize groups of people, the use of English could now be a factor for acceptance.

            Clearly, the use of English is becoming more important as the world becomes connected in various markets. For me, though, the price of losing other languages does not seem to justify any reasons for English to be an international language. As it is, the world’s geography provides all cultures with very different resources. Some cultures do not have the ability to learn English, while those who do automatically become more powerful than those cultures. In turn, the culture that learns English and primarily uses it, is now assimilating to a culture in which English is dominant. By assimilating, this culture is considered an ally of English speaking cultures, therefore creating a dichotomy between English speakers and non-English speakers. Eventually, this could wipe out entire cultures. And for the ones that do not want to assimilate, power may be exerted over them in order to obtain their resources or skills. The way it’s looking now, 20 cultures might be battling the entire world, which is why English as a world language is bad and certain measures should be undertaken to insure that the diversity of world is never lost.