Why is English a world language

Why is English a world language.

Мельников Андрей

                                                                               Викторович

МБОУ «ООШ №7»

                                                                           8 А класс

                                                                           учитель:

                                                                                      Черникова Г.С.

 All people know, that English   is  very  popular language around the world. Have you ever thought how many people speak English? The exact number is different to tell, but it is more than one thousand million people, that is 20 per cent of the world’s population. English is the most widespread language on earth. The English language is now the native language of about 400 million people, and the official language in over 60 countries. If you add to this the enormous number of people who study English as a foreign language, you will understand that English major world language.

Today, when English is one of the major languages in the world, it requires an effort of the imagination to realize that this is important for us. For example, in Shakespeare’s time only a few million people spoke English, and the language was not thought to be very important by the other nations of Europe.

At present, 80 per cent of all information in computers is in English, 60 per cent of all international telephone calls are made in English. English is also the main language of international conferences, airports, medicine, diplomacy, and international competitions. There are a lot of English schools around the world.

People who speak English divide into three groups: those who have learned it as their native language, those who have learned it as a second language, those people are named bilingual and those who  are  force to use it for a practical, professional or educational. One person from seven of the world population belongs to one of these three groups. That’s why it’s so important learning English.

Now English is becoming more than one language because not everyone in the world speaks the same kind of English. There are many varieties of English: American English is only one example. There is no doubt that different varieties of English will continue develop around the world. I think, the world needs many languages, not just one. Perhaps, English will be an international language, but it will never be the only one. I hope that in the future, most people will speak more than one language. And, we shall not have any problem with communication.

         My main reason  for studding English is that speaking of foreign language you can read papers, magazines. It’s very useful when travelling in English-speaking country. If you like travelling you can go anywhere without being afraid that other people will not understand you. So it is very useful to learn foreign language. Knowledge of foreign helps us to develop friendship and understanding among people. Besides, knowing English gives me an opportunity to better understand the world in which such great people Charles Dickens, C.S. Lewis and J. R. R.  Rowling lived.

I’m quite sure that in the 21st century, English will remain the major world language. And, the most widespread language in the future will be American English. But, I think that different varieties of English will continue to develop around the world. On the other hand, the world needs many languages, not just one. Perhaps, English will be an international language, but it will never be the only one.