International English Essay Example for Free

International English Essay Introduction English is termed as the universal language (Crystal 2003). In almost all regions of the world, English is either their official or second language. Most of the countries in the Western, particularly North America, are using the English language (Burchfield 2003). In addition, some European countries, like the United Kingdom, and Asian countries, like Singapore, India, Pakistan and the Philippines, are more inclined to use the English language than their native languages (Cheshire 2007). It is true that the English language is being used by different countries in the world. Some have also different ways of using it by having a distinct style and structure of speaking and writing the English language. Nevertheless, it is also said that there is a common ground in which the English language is being expressed and used (Burchfield 2003). Having the same vocabulary expressions, meaning and senses, and concepts and contexts, the English language is understood if not universally at least internationally (Graddol 1996). Truly, the English language plays a very vital part in the international scene. For a very diverse and sundry character of the world, it needs a general or common medium that would serve as the channel for communication among different countries globally (Crystal 2003). It is to be noted that every country has its own official or native language. And this language may be understood only by its mother country. In this case, such country would really have to use a second language that other countries and the international community understand in order for such country to have access of communication toward them (Cheshire 2007). This paper would discuss the role of the English language in different countries and in the international community. Further, this paper would try to elucidate on the different approaches that different countries have in using the English language. History of the English Language The English language is originally the language of the Anglo-Frisian civilizations. Around the fifth century A. D. , people from the northwest of Germany occupied the Eastern England. The Old English language became a combination of the language spoken by the displaced primordial people and the language which was spread by the aggressor or the ruling class (Burnley 2000) Some say that it is either the displaced people or the aggressor that adapt to the kind of English language that was being used by the protagonist regions then. Others say that the now known, Old English language was the result of coalescent of the languages used by the displaced people and by the aggressor (Burchfield 2003). Nonetheless, the Old English language was regarded as an artificial composition closer to that of the Proto-Indo-European (Graddol 1996). It was only that, it adopted the West Saxon scribal rules (Fennell 2001). Due to this influence of the West Saxon scribal rules or conventions, the Old English language was said to lose its distinct noun case system. The use of prepositions and constant word-order were the chief mechanisms used to transmit meaning. Such structure is manifested in the Middle English era (Cheshire 2007). In 1066, The Norman Conquest of England overwhelmingly influenced the development of the English language (Burnley 2000). There are huge numbers of Norman terms and expressions that became included in the Old English specifically those in the legal and administrative genres. Eventually, the Old English language was also influenced by the Greek and Latin terms (Fennell 2001). This signaled the rise of the Middle English. The fifth century, however, marked the new shift of the English language from Middle English to Early Modern English. The evolution was characterized as the Great Vowel Shift which means that the change was motivated by the transformation on the uses and roles of vowel (Burchfield 2003). The Community of the English Language It is true that the English language cannot be owned by one nation. It is for the reason that English language is not really owned by a single country or region. Moreover, the English language is constructed and utilized by different countries all over the world according to their culture and tradition. This entails that the English language may be used differently by different nations. Yet the English language, as mentioned earlier, has distinct common features that are universal to all English-users. The sentence structure, concepts and meanings, and style and phonology may vary according to the established standard for English language among different countries (Cheshire 2007). The United States of America has the largest population of English-speakers. United Kingdom, Canada and Australia ranked second, third and fourth respectively. Although U. S. and U. K. have the highest number of population that speaks the English language, the English language was not even considered as their official language. In addition South Africa is also a known region of English-speaking people. Singapore ranked first in Asia having a great number of populations which speaks the English language (Kachru 1992). Although the English language only placed third in the category of the major language by native speakers (Mandarin Chinese and Spanish placed first and second respectively), it is the most commonly used language in the world. India ranked in the category of country which uses the English language as the second language (Kachru 1992). And because English is extensively used and spoken by many countries in the world, it is labeled as the global language or universal language of the modern period (Crystal 2003). Though it is not really being used as an official language by other countries, it is more likely that it is taught as the second language. According to some linguists, the English language that is being used by different people all over the world does not really have a uniform character (Cheshire 2007). Conversely, it is the very one that absorbs the culture of particular countries that make use of it as a medium of language. In the international community or in the international scene, the English language is being used to announce international declarations. It is also the official language used in aerial and maritime communications. Moreover, it is used as one of the official languages of the United Nations, European Union, and the majority of the international athletic organizations (Crystal 2003). Such importance of the English language is also manifested in the printings and publications of books, newspapers and magazines in which the English language is used (Crystal 2003). It was also reported that most articles produced and published were written in English albeit only half of them came from countries which official language is English. Though there are regions and parts of the world which are not really proficient speaking the English language, it is undeniably that somehow they know and understand some of it (Crane 2004). This is the reason behind the idea that at any rate the English language is the most commonly used language in the world – that even if you go to a foreign land, you can survive with regards to communication by using the English language (Cheshire 2007).