Пономаренко О. Г.

Національний університет біоресурсів та природокористування України

English Language in the World

A new language is a new world.

Some time ago a newspaper reporter called the modern Earth “a world-village”. It really means that year the ears getting smaller with the development of communication and increase in international. People of different countries and nations have to get along well with the progress in world trade and technology as well as with each other.

It is a common knowledge that there are lots of languages in the world, and some of them fall into category of international languages or languages of wider communication group, such as English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Italian and Arabic. All these languages are the official languages of the UN.

Geographically, English is the most widespread language on Earth, second only to Mandarin Chinese in the number of people who speak it. Outside the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, English is a native language in many countries, and the major language of five ― Great Britain, the United State of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Despite the great distances separating these five English-speaking communities from each other and from the British Isles and great social and cultural differences between them, the forms of English which they use remain mutually intelligible. But each area of the English-speaking world has developed its own special characteristics, its own vocabulary and pronunciation characteristics.

So, it is very useful to learn foreign languages. “Knowledge is power”, one of the great men said. Speaking a foreign language you cannot only read the papers, magazines and original books by great writers, but as well watch satellite TV programs, travel in the different parts of the world. Besides, understanding and speaking a foreign language or two became necessary while looking a good job.

A truly educated person should know at least one foreign language, which will enable him to communicate with foreigners, use a personal computer, and take part in cultural and educational exchanges with other countries. Among a great number of foreign languages I’ve chosen English because it is the world’s most important language in politics, science and culture. Over 330 mln people speak it as the mother tongue and nearly twice as many use it as a second language. Half of the world’s scientific literature is in English. It is the language of computer technology.

Furthermore, English is a very melodic language. When we heard English speech for the first time, we were taken with the harmony of its sounds and intonations. Later while studying the English grammar we discovered the other way of reflecting reality. And what we liked most about English, that’s its proverbs and idioms. They and rhymed, many traditions of the English national are represented in them.

First English language became widely spoken in the world with the rise of British Empire. Then success of American industry and the growth of exports in technologies cause increase in circulation of the language. And the third factor of the last decades is remarkable boom in computer-related equipment and technologies as well as the influence of British and American pop culture and video films.

Fortunately, we began learning English even before we could understand the important of speaking and understanding it. Now we know that is very useful for a XXI century professional no matter what field you are in. The world is getting smaller and international connection tighter. One cannot do well without one of the common European languages.

Standard English is the type of English that is used by educated people throughout the English-speaking world. It is a variety with certain features of Words and word-combinations and grammar. There is no authority that decides what Standard English is. It is the English that is taught in the education system of English-speaking countries and also taught to foreigners. It appears in print and in the spoken language of mass media.

Standard English is not completely uniform. There are differences between the national standards (for example, in Britain, America and Australia). There are also variations within each English-speaking country. Within British standard there are features typical for Northern England, Scotland, Northern Ireland. The most firmly established standards are British and American English, the other tending to follow the usage of these two. Differences in spelling and punctuation between the two standards are relatively minor, more in grammar and still more in Words and word-combinations.

In many areas of the world English is not a native language, but a second language with official status used in education and administration and for communication between speakers of other languages. Second-language speakers have also contributed a considerably part in English. Most of the countries where English is a second language were British territories (India, Nigeria, Ghana).Many people in these countries think of themselves as speaking British English, but their use of the language differs considerably from the British standard English, and not only in pronunciation. It is possible that Indian or Nigerian English will have their own norms and national standards. It is to be hoped, that the variants of English will not differ so mach, that it will make international communication in English difficult.

The rise of English is a remarkable success story. When Julius Caesar landed in Britain nearly two thousand years ago, English did not exist. Today English is used by at least 750 million people, and barely half of those speak it as a mother tongue. Some estimates have put that figure closer to one billion. Whatever the total, English today is more widely spoken and written, than any other language has ever been. It has become the language of the planet, the first truly global language.

Literature:

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2.Чугунов В. Л. Стандартна англійська мова. – Харків: Олант, 2006 р. – 428 ст.

3.Степул А. А. Англійська мова в світі сьогодення. – Київ: ББК 81.2 англ., 2003.- 520 ст.