1- WHY A GLOBAL LANGUAGE
WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES MAY NOT WANT TO USE THE
LANGUAGE IN THE SAME WAY THAT YOU DO, AND ARE CHANCING IT TO SUIT
THEMSELVES (LORO STESSI). WE ARE ALL SENSITIVE TO THE WAY OTHER PEOPLE USE
(IT IS OFTEN SAID, ABUSE) OUR LANGUAGE.
WHAT IS A GLOBAL LANGUAGE?
A LANGUAGE ACHIEVES (REALIZZA) A GENUINELY GLOBAL STATUS WHEN IT DEVELOPS
(SVILUPPA) A SPECIAL ROLE THAT IS RECOGNIZED (RICONOSCIUTO) IN EVERY COUNTRY.
SUCH A ROLE WILL BE MOST EVIDENT IN COUNTRIES WHERE LARGE NUMBERS OF THE
PEOPLE SPEAK THE LANGUAGE AS A MOTHER TONGUE (MADRE LINGUA) - IN THE CASE
OF ENGLISH THIS WOULD MEAN THE USA, CANADA, BRITAIN, IRELAND, AUSTRALIA, NEW
ZELAND, SOUTH AFRICA AND SEVERAL CARIBBEAN.
THERE ARE TWO MAIN WAYS IN WHICH (IN CUI) THIS CAN BE DONE . FIRSTLY, A
LANGUAGE CAN BE MADE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF A COUNTRY, TO BE USED AS A
MEDIUM OF COMMUNICATION. SECONDLY A LANGUAGE CAN BE MADE A PRIORITY IN A
COUNTRY’S FOREIGN-LANGUAGE TEACHING (INSEGNARE), EVEN THOUGHT THIS
LANGUAGE HAS NO OFFICIAL STATUS.
ENGLISH IS NOW THE LANGUAGE MOST WIDELY (APPIAMENTE) TAUGHT (INSEGNATO) AS
A FOREIGN LANGUAGE, IN OVER 100 COUNTRIES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO INTERPRETING
THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN “SECOND” AND “FOREING" LANGUAGE USE AS A
DIFFERENCE IN FLUENCY OR ABILITY.
A QUARTER OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION IS ALREADY FLUENT OR COMPETENT IN
ENGLISH, IN THE EARLY 2000’S THAT MEANS AROUND 1.5 BILION PEOPLE.
WHAT MAKES A GLOBAL LANGUAGE?
A LANGUAGE AS TRADITIONALLY BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE FOR ONE
CHIEF REASON (RAGIONE PRINCIPALE): THE POWER OF ITS PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THEIR
POLITICAL AND MILITARY POWER. THE HISTORY OF A GLOBAL LANGUAGE CAN BE
TRACED TROUGH THE SUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION OF ITS SOLDIERS/SAILOR SPEAKERS.
AND ENGLISH HAS BEEN NO EXCEPTION. ECONOMICS REPLACED POLITICS HAS THE
CHIEF DRIVING FORCED. AND THE LANGUAGE BEHIND THE US DOLLAR WAS ENGLISH.
WHY DO WE NEED A GLOBAL LANGUAGE?
THE PROBLEM IS FIND A “LINGUA FRANCA “ (IL PROBLEMA è TROVARE UNA LINGUA
FRANCA). FOR EXAMPLE WEST AFRICAN PIDGIN ENGLISH IS USED EXTENSIVE BETWEEN
SEVERAL ETHINC GROUPS ALONG THE WEST AFRICAN COAST. USUALLY A SMALL
NUMBER OF LANGUAGE HAVE BEEN DESIGNED OFFICIAL LANGUAGE FOR AN
ORGANIZATION’S ACTIVITIES: FOR EXAMPLE THE UN WAS ESTABLISHED WITH FIVE
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (ENGLISH, FRENCH, SPANISH, RUSSIAN AND CHINESE. THE NEED
FOR A GLOBAL LANGUAGE IS PARTICULARLY APPRECIATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL
ACADEMIC AND BUSINESS COMMUNITIES. THE GROWTH (LA CRESCITA) IN
INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS HAS BEEN LARGELY THE RESULT OF TWO SEPARATE
DEVELOPMENT. THE PHYSICISTS WOULD NOT BE TALKING SO CONVENIENTLY TO EACH
OTHER AT ALL WITHOUT THE TECHNOLOGY OF MODERN COMMUNICATION. AND THE
BUSINESS CONTACTS WOULD BE UNABLE TO MEET EASILY IN SINGAPORE WITHOUT THE
TECHNOLOGY OF AIR TRANSPORTATION.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF A GLOBAL LANGUAGE?
THE BENEFITS WHICH WOULD FLOW FROM THE EXISTENCE OF A GLOVAL LANGUAGE
ARE CONSIDERABLE; BUT SEVERAL COMMENTATORS HAVE POINTED TO POSSIBLE RISK.
PERHAPS A GLOBAL LANGUAGE MAKE ALL OTHER LANGUAGES UNNECESSARY. AND
