عبدالله الاسمري
06-10-2007, 03:12 AM
This article was first published in the Saudi Gazette on 2nd of october
English goes global
It goes without saying that English language has become the de facto language of many key domains such as commerce, technology and media, to name just a few. Statistically speaking and within a decade from now, as many as two billion people are expected to use English to fulfill communicative purposes. However, such spread of a foreign language, which, as linguists assert, is unprecedented in the recorded history, poses a great threat to the national language, its dialects and the largely unrecorded dialect varieties. Despite the outspoken laws aiming at protecting linguistic diversity of world countries, many believe that many languages, dialects and, maybe, identities would be eroded giving way to the birth of a super language. Some analysts went further to assume that the linguistic dominance is nothing but another face of military hegemony sought by the world superpowers. Such hegemonic spread of English has long been a topic intensely debated by non-English politicians, linguists and lexicographers who believe that English is only the turbine engine of cultural dominance.
However, such linguistic imperialism is not without side effects. The National Geographic's report on the disappearance of several world's languages is startling. In a highly pessimistic rhetoric, the report rang the bells of warning by assuming that almost 7000 languages would likely disappear by 2100, taking with them a great cultural, historical and social heritage.
The proliferation of English is seen everywhere and does not require a linguist to prove or disprove such a linguistic reality. Here in Saudi Arabia, English has long been a permanent school subject. English language courses nowadays take up much space in the primary, intermediate and secondary curricula. Future plans for introducing it at earlier stages are hotly debated amid deep division in views between proponents and opponents. For those proponents, the realities of globalization make it hardly impossible for countries to adopt a linguistic protectionist policy. Such policy is pursued under a pretext of securing the national identity encoded in the national language. For opponents, on the other hand, such an intense focus on teaching/learning English is undermining the sacred status of Arabic language. In reality, English is sweeping through all aspects of life. It is enough for you to pass along a street so as to discover that the names of the stores there are written in broad English despite the fact that regulations prohibit the use of non-Arabic store names. The secret behind this is simple: economy.
Several public bodies in the Kingdom use English as a medium of instruction. In the medical sector, almost all staff use English exclusively to interact with each other, write medical reports and prescribe medicines. At the university level, many subject-matters are exclusively taught in English. A freshman student is struggling hard to overcome his ostensible weakness in the language by enrolling at private language institutes. Some specialties, though, require the students to buy reference books originally written in English. In sum, one's knowledge of English is the most stifling problem yet to confront students who seek to pursue their studies of science-oriented nature.
English-learning industry is flourishing, too. Unlike several years ago where learning a foreign language was associated with elites such as diplomats, everyone is nowadays seeking to learn English. With such fever to learn English, the number of people flocking to learn it is soaring. Figures indicate that short-and long-term English learning courses provided by numerous private institutes are attracting an increasing number of students, job seekers and even employees. There are several reasons for that. First, the number of Internet users, who are unable to make use of the World Wide Web without knowing English, has dramatically increased. Next, the emergence of the so-called knowledge-based economy has instilled a view that English is now important in exchanging and analyzing economical information. Finally, having a sound knowledge of English seems to be a constant prerequisite in job advertisements that are regularly announced in local papers.
Never has English enjoyed such a prominent status since the heyday of the British Empire. Several global Englishes emerged. Chinese English, Philippines English, Zambian English are good examples of how English has greatly expanded and widely used in non-native English communities. This linguistic situation where English is emerging as the world's top language is not only undermining small languages with minor speakers, but also poses a great threat to well-established, world-renowned languages such as Spanish and French. English has successfully replaced French in many places which had long been heavily fortified French castles. The on-going competition between the two rival languages, English and French, has driven the authorities in France to prohibit high-ranking officials from speaking publicly using any other language but French. Spanish, with its historical presence in mid- and Southern American countries, is struggling hard to maintain its status as an official language in these countries despite the fierce competition from English.
Although English enjoys a universal popularity, it will no longer preserve such status. Due to the emergence of China as an economical giant, Chinese would pull the rug out from under English. Hindi is also mushrooming as the Indian economy peaks and may, who knows, jump into the stage and take its turn in this open race in which languages have become more closely related to economy rather than to literature or even religion.
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English goes global
It goes without saying that English language has become the de facto language of many key domains such as commerce, technology and media, to name just a few. Statistically speaking and within a decade from now, as many as two billion people are expected to use English to fulfill communicative purposes. However, such spread of a foreign language, which, as linguists assert, is unprecedented in the recorded history, poses a great threat to the national language, its dialects and the largely unrecorded dialect varieties. Despite the outspoken laws aiming at protecting linguistic diversity of world countries, many believe that many languages, dialects and, maybe, identities would be eroded giving way to the birth of a super language. Some analysts went further to assume that the linguistic dominance is nothing but another face of military hegemony sought by the world superpowers. Such hegemonic spread of English has long been a topic intensely debated by non-English politicians, linguists and lexicographers who believe that English is only the turbine engine of cultural dominance.
However, such linguistic imperialism is not without side effects. The National Geographic's report on the disappearance of several world's languages is startling. In a highly pessimistic rhetoric, the report rang the bells of warning by assuming that almost 7000 languages would likely disappear by 2100, taking with them a great cultural, historical and social heritage.
The proliferation of English is seen everywhere and does not require a linguist to prove or disprove such a linguistic reality. Here in Saudi Arabia, English has long been a permanent school subject. English language courses nowadays take up much space in the primary, intermediate and secondary curricula. Future plans for introducing it at earlier stages are hotly debated amid deep division in views between proponents and opponents. For those proponents, the realities of globalization make it hardly impossible for countries to adopt a linguistic protectionist policy. Such policy is pursued under a pretext of securing the national identity encoded in the national language. For opponents, on the other hand, such an intense focus on teaching/learning English is undermining the sacred status of Arabic language. In reality, English is sweeping through all aspects of life. It is enough for you to pass along a street so as to discover that the names of the stores there are written in broad English despite the fact that regulations prohibit the use of non-Arabic store names. The secret behind this is simple: economy.
Several public bodies in the Kingdom use English as a medium of instruction. In the medical sector, almost all staff use English exclusively to interact with each other, write medical reports and prescribe medicines. At the university level, many subject-matters are exclusively taught in English. A freshman student is struggling hard to overcome his ostensible weakness in the language by enrolling at private language institutes. Some specialties, though, require the students to buy reference books originally written in English. In sum, one's knowledge of English is the most stifling problem yet to confront students who seek to pursue their studies of science-oriented nature.
English-learning industry is flourishing, too. Unlike several years ago where learning a foreign language was associated with elites such as diplomats, everyone is nowadays seeking to learn English. With such fever to learn English, the number of people flocking to learn it is soaring. Figures indicate that short-and long-term English learning courses provided by numerous private institutes are attracting an increasing number of students, job seekers and even employees. There are several reasons for that. First, the number of Internet users, who are unable to make use of the World Wide Web without knowing English, has dramatically increased. Next, the emergence of the so-called knowledge-based economy has instilled a view that English is now important in exchanging and analyzing economical information. Finally, having a sound knowledge of English seems to be a constant prerequisite in job advertisements that are regularly announced in local papers.
Never has English enjoyed such a prominent status since the heyday of the British Empire. Several global Englishes emerged. Chinese English, Philippines English, Zambian English are good examples of how English has greatly expanded and widely used in non-native English communities. This linguistic situation where English is emerging as the world's top language is not only undermining small languages with minor speakers, but also poses a great threat to well-established, world-renowned languages such as Spanish and French. English has successfully replaced French in many places which had long been heavily fortified French castles. The on-going competition between the two rival languages, English and French, has driven the authorities in France to prohibit high-ranking officials from speaking publicly using any other language but French. Spanish, with its historical presence in mid- and Southern American countries, is struggling hard to maintain its status as an official language in these countries despite the fierce competition from English.
Although English enjoys a universal popularity, it will no longer preserve such status. Due to the emergence of China as an economical giant, Chinese would pull the rug out from under English. Hindi is also mushrooming as the Indian economy peaks and may, who knows, jump into the stage and take its turn in this open race in which languages have become more closely related to economy rather than to literature or even religion.
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