INGLESE GLOBALE: processi di diffusione, differenziazione, negoziazione
e adattamento linguistico.
Motivazioni che hanno reso possibile la diffusione e l’innovazione dell’inglese
a livello globale.
ENGLISH AS A GLOBAL LANGUAGE D. Crystal
The first global lingua franca.
What does it mean to say that a language is a global language?
How does it become a global language?
When it develops a special role that is recognised in every country. (official
language of a country, favoured language, priority in foreign language
teaching). English is taught in over 100 countries. Reason for choosing a
particular language: historical tradition, political expediency, desire for
commerce etc. N.B. English learned as a foreign language can be different
from English spoken by native speakers.
Why a language becomes a global language? It has little to do with the
number of speakers. Factors: economic, technological, cultural (power)
The beautiful structure of English isn’t the reason for it becoming the global
language because of its structural properties. Only one chief reason: political
and military power. The history of a global language can be traced trough the
successful expedition of its soldier/sailor speakers. Economic power hel to
maintain and expand it. (power of the press, communication technologies)
After a language is accepted from outside the community (English, French)
because of its political, economic and religious power. Multinational political
groupings -> pressure to adopt a single lingua franca to facilitate
communication. Committee doesn’t have to be involved -> participants
automatically use a single language. Technologies and air transportation -
>facilities that provide the circumstances needed for a global language to
grow.
Risk of a global language: elite of monolinguistical class, people lazy about to
learn a new foreign language, it makes other languages unnecessary. Who
speaks English as a mothertongue -> position of power.
Take attention to linguistic complacency (English mother tongues who
assume that everyone is able to speak their language).
