Global English
This post will examine the videos The Expansion of English in China and Global English usage in the European Union in order to analyze the possible negative implications of English being the Lingua Franca.
Summary of The Expansion of English in China
The video The Expansion of English in China discusses the recent increase of English use in China. The video talks about how China once was mostly shut off to the world and used little to no foreign languages. Now because of interest in being part of the global economy, there is a push to learn English in order to do business with foreign countries. More than ever, students are pushed to learn English and many jobs require English proficiency.
Issues
One of the main issues brought up in the video is that this increase of English and high value placed on English education will slowly erase parts of Chinese culture. Many students who study English also aspire to work for foreign companies and some take interest in the cultures of English speaking countries. While neither of these traits are negative it does raise the issue of cultural erasure over a longer period of time. English currently holds more power globally and can offer a lot more opportunities than most languages. This much higher level of power is a large contributor to this issue. The push to learn English is currently helping China's economy and many of it's citizens however it is also feeding into the power English is currently holding and widening the gap in how much power each language holds.
Summary of Global English Usage in the European Union
The video Global English Usage in the European Union discusses the importance, advantages and disadvantages of members of the EU speaking in their native languages. There is some push to conduct business in only English French and German as they are the 3 most predominant languages in Europe however this would create a highly unfair dynamic. Native speakers of these languages would automatically have an advantage and would achieve more. Members can also most accurately state their message in their native language which helps there be less miscommunications. The down side to the current system is that the EU spends a large amount of its budget on interpreters. It also is still difficult for speakers of lesser known languages as some members do not listen to speeches in languages they don't know. Both proposed systems have pros and cons however the video concludes that continuing to speak in all European languages is the most equitable option.
Issues
Both videos make clear that English is the current dominant language and therefor English speakers hold the most power. This is creating a dynamic where non native English speakers have to adapt and learn English. This is putting them at a huge disadvantage as they will not be able to speak as effectively as their native speaking peers. This same English dominant culture enables English speakers to expect others to adapt to them and gives them reason to ignore speakers in other languages as we see in the video. Because the power is so unequally spread between languages, countries in the EU may also face an unequal distribution of power.
References
Khodorkovsky, M. (2020, November 16). How is English used as a lingua franca today? ALTA Language Services. Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/how-is-english-used-as-a-lingua-franca-today/
O'Regan, J. P. (2014). English as a Lingua Franca: An Immanent Critique. Academic.oup.com. Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://academic.oup.com/applij/article/35/5/533/175252
File:English classes for ethnic Zhuang students in Longzhou County ... Wikimedia Commons. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:English_classes_for_ethnic_Zhuang_students_in_Longzhou_County_Ethnic_School,_Guangxi_2006_d.jpg
Parliament, E. (2012, October 19). EU Summit - Inside the Conference Room. Flickr. Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/european_parliament/8102161120
Hi hattie!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog post. I completely agree with your viewpoint that the dominance of English creates a level of expectation Americans have for others to speak their mother tongue. I find that this expectation follows a lot of Americans, even when they are in foreign countries. To expect others to speak English, instead of their mother tongues is insensitive and entitled. Not only that, but Americans are not able to fully connect with other cultures and respect them. So while, other countries are benefitting from learning English, we are stagnant in our growth in regards to connections with other parts of the world.