English: A Friend or Foe?

Today English is the language of international law, international politics, business and diplomacy. Day by day more minor languages disappear, and English becomes more commonly used and global. Scholars argue about how globalization of English and bilingualism around the world would affect other languages and cultures. Most of my friends think that bilingualism and globalization of English will improve the lives of people around the world; however, the situation will only encourage competition and will lead to a survival of the fittest situation.

Knowing English constitutes an advantage in the contemporary world. Modern Age made communities and nations come closer through advanced communication channels, and today world communities are largely integrated. English had become a part of daily lives of many people through media and globalization. Bilingualism could be good for people who speak English as a second language. Since English is widely used in the international business, one who speaks English will have competitive advantage over others when seeking an international job.

English is widely spoken by millions of people around the world and is being learnt by some additional millions of people each passing day. By 2050s English will completely be the global language, and most people, except for the isolated tribes of Africa and South America, will learn to speak English. Globalization of economies forces communities to encourage learning English, because otherwise they will not be able to communicate with other communities and will be isolated.

A global language is bringing the world civilizations together and easing the intercultural communication. English had become the international language of diplomacy, politics ...

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...eir mother languages. Global thinking does not require thinking in the global language. So the practice of preserving mother languages will not make cultures fall behind in the age of globalization. Encouraging preservation of mother tongues will protect the cultural diversity in the world, and will prevent the formation of a single world culture that lacks diversity.

To sum up, in the contemporary world English is surely the global language but the spreading of English threatens some cultures. Communities must encourage the preservation of mother tongues and learning English as the second language to not to fall behind in the age of globalization and communication since English had become the international language in all areas from politics to technology. In that way, they can protect their culture without isolating themselves from the fast globalizing world.