Skip to content
Skip to main content
header search
ahihi OpenLearn
OpenLearn
Menu
sticky search
Author: Maria Leedham

Globalisation and the English language

Updated Friday, 30 August 2019
Globalisation has influenced the evolution of the English language the most, according to Dr Maria Leedham, in this short piece based on the transcript of a phone interview.
Over the past 100 years it’s globalisation – accelerated by new technology – that has had the greatest impact on the English language. English is a world language now, the dominant language of science, computing and academia in general. But looking back 100 years, to the start of the first world war, it wasn’t so clear that English would be so dominant.
 
People stayed in the area they grew up in, but we’ve seen tremendous changes since then in international travel and in the growth of the internet. English has a very large vocabulary and absorbs many words from other languages. That process will carry on through globalisation.
 
My research has looked at Chinese students writing in English, and although some people talk about Chinese becoming the lingua franca, I don’t think that’s likely to happen for quite some time. I think globalisation will result in people becoming more accepting of differences, of using different connotations, different vocabularies and so on.
 
We don’t own English anymore; that’s quite important. People can be quite precious about speaking British English as if it’s ours.
 
English is the dominant language in the world, and that means we have to accept that it’s going to change, and this change is beyond the control of mother tongue speakers.
 
 

Read more articles on the English language


  • Why has English taken over academia?

    Why has English taken over academia?

    If English is globally squeezing out teaching in local languages, the fault isn't with the language but with economics. Anna Kristina Hultgren and Elizabeth J. Erling explain.

    Read now to access more details of Why has English taken over academia?

    Article

    Level: 1 Introductory

  • Is English squeezing out local languages in Uganda?

    Is English squeezing out local languages in Uganda?

    English is the official language of Uganda - but this shouldn't be at the expense of other languages, argues Judith Nakayiza and Medadi Ssentanda.

    Read now to access more details of Is English squeezing out local languages in Uganda?

    Article

    Level: 1 Introductory

  • Is Brexit going to unseat English as the lingua franca?

    Is Brexit going to unseat English as the lingua franca?

    With the monoglot Brits no longer trotting in to Brussels, will English start to loosen its grip on the EU - and beyond?

    Read now to access more details of Is Brexit going to unseat English as the lingua franca?

    Article

    Level: 1 Introductory

 

 

Become an OU student

Author

Ratings & Comments

Share this free course

Copyright information

Skip Rate and Review

For further information, take a look at our frequently asked questions which may give you the support you need.

Have a question?