English Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

English Language - Essay Example When we talk about present day society, we are actually focussing the significance of the domains of English language in a cultural context, where global popular culture in the name of 'globalisation' is challenging the essential mythologies of English language (Mair, 2003, p. 19). The way English language is misused in the cultural context does not necessarily refer to culture-specific aspects, although it is obvious that many of the concepts in this category are alien to many Third World cultures and the corresponding texts are imported from the First World (Greenbaum, 1996, p. 188). English as a world language serves all the world's citizens irrespective of caste, culture or creed and its postulated universality makes it equally relevant everywhere, as though it can function independently of contemporary power balances, both global and local (Mair, 2003, p. 20). Although globalisation in the international spread of English language may be regrettable and undesirable but we cannot ignore that global English today has become an agent of reform and fairness. Despite a 'globalised language', the pressures of a rights-oriented culture may one day enable English to become the vehicle for articulation while maintaining certain worldwide standards of protection. English language from economic perspective has been able to bridge the gap between various cultures and economies; therefore it has served as an exchange-facilitating institution, where 'exchange' is not the only economic function English language has performed (Reksulak et al, 2004). English language development has been shaped by revealing the constellation of economic and other forces. However, the impact technology upholds in the innovation, trade, and economic growth on the English-speaking world is evident in the rising share of nouns in new words added during the past two or three centuries which make up 58% of the words originating in the 19th century and more than 70% of the words originating in the 20th (Reksulak et al, 2004). There is no doubt that English language blames grand scale globalisation factor and put all the enthusiasm and vitriol on its shoulders, but it is this language that is responsible for the growth in regional interactions from trade to travel. These interactions have long engaged in promoting the spread of English language among other regional languages (Fishman, 2000, p. 13). The significance of English language lies in the notion that it is present in societies where local languages are disappearing, in cultures where local languages are not considered, English is understood and spoken (Moritoshi, Nov 2001). References Bryson Bill, (1990) The mother tongue: English and how it got that way. New York: HarperCollins. Fishman A. Joshua, (Spring 2000) "English: The Killer Language OR A PASSING PHASE" In: Whole Earth. Greenbaum Sidney, (1996) Comparing English Worldwide: The International Corpus of English: Clarendon Press: Oxford. Mair Christian, (2003) The Politics of English as a World Language: New Horizons in Postcolonial Cultural Studies: Rodopi: Amsterdam. Moritoshi Paul, Nov 2001,Perspectives on the Role of English as an International Language, Accessed from Reksulak Michael, William F. Shughart Ii & Tollison D. Robert, (2004) "Economics and English: Language Growth in Economic Perspective" In: Southern Economic