ESSAY 1- Andrea Calderon Sanchez

THE FUTURE STATUS OF ENGLISH AS A GLOBAL LANGUAGE IS ASSURED

         Language is the base for communication exists; however, because of many languages, people have difficult moments to understand among them. Although, we have a great solution: English, because of media ,globalization,etc, English has become one of the most used language. Just everywhere you can talk with someone even he or she is chinese, hindi, brazilian, italian, etc.That's why, I think that English as assured as a global language.

         David Crystal, a British expert, figure that 350 million of people speak English as a main language, also 250-350 million aprox. can use English as second language; furthermore, in ex-colonies, around 30 million latest immigrants to the Unites States or Canada’s 6 million frenchspoken (The World)1.

          In the other hand, there people who are against of English impact. In a newspaper article "Brazil Considers Linguistic Barricade." Deputy Aldo Rebelo disapproves the use of English in some Brazilian regions because he thinks that English is disrespectful and humiliate brazilians because they have to pronounce words which are nor theirs. Speaking a foreing language does not offend anyone, much less is a crime; imagine a foreigner who want to buy something to take it to his/her country; it would be really difficult for this person to buy it because salesperson would have to guess what she or he is speaking, also I'm deeply sure that when brazilians go shopping, they only pronounce few words in English like sale; for example, I bet that they do not say: Is it in sale? how much is it? No, they say: está em "sale"? quanto é?. Furthermore, It is easier for people who speak the same language to help each other, for example, an Irish with a Chinese who do not speak English could have a difficult time guessing what the other is trying to say. Also, words like "e-mail", " mouse" or "shampoo" are used all the time and it would be difficult to change it into the established language, how would someone change "shampoo" into his or her language?

        In his article published online " Share of people who are native speakers declining", Randolph E. Schmid says, " Nonetheless, English is strong as a second language, and teaching it has become a growth industry, said Montgomery, a Seattle-based geologist and energy consultant " (par.22.)2. Even he is against of English as global language, he is admitting how important is English for industry. For example, the peruvian doctor Elmer Huertas do not have problems with language even traveling to many countries because he can communicate with many people with different nationalities. Although, many websites use English; the most important websites like Facebook, Youtube and Twitter let people to communicate without problem. As many languages that adopt Englidh words, English has adopted foreing words, too. For example, when they wnat to relanx they take an afternoon siesta or an outdoor patio without realising that those are Spanish words.

       In conclusion, thanks to the English, we could beat these old barriers that we had to communicate.However, it is important to remember that a foreign language carries its culture, so it is important to maintain our cultural identity and not being an excuse to forget our customs.

1 "The Wold Language" The Economist Millenium Issue 31 Dec. 1999:85.

2 . Randolph E. Schmid "Share of People where native English speakers declining." 26 Feb 2004. 09 Jan. 2012 http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/ap/571281251.html?did=571281251&FMT=ABS&FMTS=FT&date=Feb+26%2C+2004&author=RANDOLPH+E.+SCHMID&desc=Share+of+people+who+are+native+English+speakers+declining.